Paris Saint-Germain Judo lays the foundations for its project

This week, a year after its inauguration was announced, Paris Saint-Germain have brought their Judo branch’s ambitious project to life by recruiting 14 young elite judokas and opening a school in the French’s capital’s 13^th arrondissement, in the CMG Sports Club’s dojo at Porte d’Italie. The Parisiens, led by French judo champion Teddy Riner, have the mission of driving the Club’s elite approach, with the aim of nurturing future champions in view of the Paris 2024 Olympics, as well as making the sport accessible to everyone – women, seniors and children – and especially those from disadvantaged backgrounds.

Djamel Bourras, President of Paris Saint-Germain Judo, announced: “We are Paris Saint-Germain, winning titles is part of our DNA. But the judo branch’s project goes beyond the realm of the elite. Our school will welcome hundreds of judo players of all ages and we will also create a cohesive judo group, whose aim is to introduce hundreds of the region’s children to the discipline. We have already started working in close collaboration with the region’s clubs, the Paris Judo League and the French Judo Federation. I am convinced that our elite judokas’ experience and Paris Saint-Germain’s reputation will enable judo to grow.”  

Teddy Riner, a Parisian judoka and icon of the judo world, added: “I’m delighted that youngsters will be wearing the Paris Saint-Germain judogi, like I did when I first started out. Today, I am proud to be able to give back to the Club that gave me so much, namely by welcoming children who can benefit from the strong educational potential of our sport. Our dojo will be a valuable tool for fulfilling the three-fold mission that we have set ourselves: training the elite judokas of the future, introducing a large number of people to the values of judo, and carrying out charitable actions through our sport.”

Alongside Teddy Riner, 14 judokas to bring the Paris Saint-Germain at the top level

Paris Saint-Germain is driven by the desire to become one of the greatest sports clubs in the world. The resurgence of this fifth sporting branch (men’s football, women’s football, men’s handball in 2013 and e-sport in 2016) confirms the Club’s development strategy. Judo at PSG is nothing new: the branch already existed between 1992 and 2002, with Olympic champions such as David Douillet and Djamel Bouras.

Paris Saint-Germain Judo started the 2018-2019 season with an elite group made up of 14 athletes, who now fly the Rouge et Bleu flag alongside ten-time world champion and two-time Olympic champion Teddy Riner.

Chosen because of their great potential, the five young women and nine young men will take part in the French 1^st division championships on 3^rd and 4^th November in Rouen.

The 5 girls are: Faïza Mokdar (age 17, -52 kg), Habi Magassa (age 17, -78 kg), Lalou Lebrun (age 19, -52 kg), Mélanie Vieu (age 19, -48 kg), Carla NZossi (age 20, -70 kg).

The 9 boys are: Heydar Ouchen (age 16, -55 kg), Yhonice Goueffon (age 17, -60 kg), Joris Agbegnenou (age 18, -90 kg), Widdman Laudort (age 19, -66 kg), Hugo Metifiot (age 19, -73 kg), Eniel Caroly (age 18, -81 kg), Tanou Keïta (age 18, -100 kg), Christopher Mvuama (age 19, -100 kg), Israil Dakayev (age 19, -66 kg).

A first title in the European Championships

Eight Parisian judokas were selected by the French Judo Federation to compete in the Junior European Championships in Sofia (Bulgaria) at the end of last week: Faïza Mokdar (first team), Mélanie Vieu (first team), Carla NZossi (reserve), Yhonice Goueffon (first team), Hugo Metifiot (first team), Eniel Caroly (first team), Tanou Keïta (reserve) and Israil Dakayev (reserve).

Faïza Mokdar, one of the most promising rising stars of French judo, dazzled on the European stage. The young Parisian clinched the Junior European Championship title in the -52 kg category, just a few months after being crowned winner at the Cadet championships, thus sealing an exceptional and historic double victory.

Three of the Club’s athletes will be back on the international stage at the Junior World Championships, which will take place in the Bahamas from 17^th to 21^st October. The talented Faïza Mokdar will be joined by Yhonice Goueffon and Hugo Metifiot.

Opening a Paris Saint-Germain Judo school at Porte d’Italie

In a space decorated with the Club’s colours, inside the CMG Sports Club d’Italie 2, the Paris Saint-Germain Judo school will welcome all age categories, from age 4 to adults. The coaches will hold around twenty sessions, from Monday to Saturday.

For information and reservations, please contact Dojo CMG Sports Club – 14, rue Vandrezanne Paris 13^e, from Monday to Friday, 5pm to 8pm, or nmossion@psg.fr

Follow PSG JUDO

Supporters can stay up-to-date with all Paris Saint-Germain Judo news on the Club’s website and via Paris Saint-Germain Judo’s Twitter and Instagram accounts, which are already online.

https://twitter.com/PSG_Judo

https://www.instagram.com/psg_judo/

Press contacts

Handball & Judo communications, Matthieu Brelle-Andrade

+33 6 52 53 74 13 / mbrelleandrade@psg.fr

Football & Judo communications, Alexis Thiebart

+33 6 89 80 84 57 / athiebart@psg.fr

Corporate communications, Nicolas Serres

+33 6 58 22 44 23 / nserres@psg.fr