Judo: 11th Indian Ocean Island Games 2023 – Madagascar |16 May 2023

Paris Lozé (right) won the women's -48kg group (Photo: Roland Duval)

36-member pre-selection called

The Seychelles Judo Federation has named its pre-selection as part of its preparations for the forthcoming 11th Indian Ocean Islands Games 2023 scheduled to take place in Madagascar from August 23 to September 3.

A total of 36 judokas have been called, based on their performances at the National Championships, which served as a selection tournament, held last Saturday at the Roche Caïman dojo.

The pre-selection is made up of Paris Lozé, Kendra Vital, Megan Pierre, Eisha Belard, Fedrah Rose, Murella Crea, Dinarah Fred, Cheryl Marie, Amandah Payet, Arielle Bristol, Tamia Lucas, Rahil Marie, Dyland Bonnelame, Shaun Asba, Ashley Paul, Angelo Renaud, Rovani Pillay, Martin Michel, Nigel Kilindo, Neddy Philoé, Jamison Dick, Wayne Esther, Keith Larue, Neil Alcindor, Derick Croisée, Reuben Edmond, Dyland Charlot, Nanteniana Finesse, Freddy Young, Alexander Quilindo, Richard Meriton, Roge Gabriel, Lionel Savy and Alvin Marie.

Saturday’s competition which brought together athletes from the Alpha, Baie Ste Anne, Grand Anse Praslin, Elite, Etoile and Persévérance judo clubs was the second pre-selection platform for judokas to try for a spot in the Indian Ocean Islands Games (IOIG) team.

There were seven female categories – -48kg, -52kg, -57kg, -63, -70kg, -78kg, +78kg – while the male athletes also battled in seven groups which were the -60kg, -66kg, -73kg, -81kg, -90kg, -100kg and +100kg.

In the female -48kg category, Paris Lozé was the grand winner, finishing ahead of teammate from the Etoile Judo Club Kendra Vital who was the group’s runner-up, ahead of third-placed Megan Pierre.

There was only one contestant in the women’s -52kg, -57kg, -63kg, -70kg, and -78kg categories, namely Elisha Bellard, Fedrah Rose, Murella Créa, Dinarah Fred and Cheryl Marie respectively.

In the women’s +78kg, Amandah Payet was the winner, ahead of Arielle Bristol and Tamia Lucas.

In the men’s competition, three judokas, namely Rahil Marie, Dyland Bonnelame and Shaun Asba – accumulated the same number of points in the -60kg, placing all three of them on top of the group, while Ashley Paul finished second, ahead of third-placed Angelo Renaud.

In the -66kg category, Praslinois Rovani Pillay finished first, ahead of Martin Michel and Nigel Kilindo who were second and third respectively.

Derrick Croisée was victorious in the -81kg category, pushing Reuben Edmond into second place, while Dylan Charlot finished third in the group.

In the only bout in the -90kg category, Nanteniana Finesse won by ippon over Freddy Young, while in the -100kg group, Alexander Quilindo finished first, ahead of Richard Meriton and Roge Gabriel.

Lionel Savy was the grand winner in the +100kg, winning the only bout in the group over Alvin Marie.

Also on Saturday’s programme were the male -50kg and -55kg categories, even if the two categories will not feature in the IOIG.

In the -50kg group, Rickham Jeannie was the grand winner, finishing above Fabrice Melanie, while Leandro Figaro was the only contestant in the -55kg category.

Seasoned judoka Dominic Dugasse, along with Quessy Jean who missed out on Saturday’s competition on medical ground are also part of the pre-selection.

Speaking to Sports NATION, chairperson of the Seychelles Judo Federation (SJF) Sandra Jeanne explained that the pre-selection is based on the two competitions hosted so far (Curtain-raiser and National Competition).

She said as part of the preparations, some of the athletes will take part in the African Open 2023 scheduled to take place in Niamey, Niger between June 24-25, 2023 while they are still searching for an appropriate country for an international training camp.

At the last IOIG in 2019 in Mauritius, Seychelles won only three bronze medals courtesy of Finesse in the men’s -91kg, Croisée in the men’s -81kg and Jean-Michel Vidot in the men’s -60kg.

Roland Duval