11th Indian Ocean Island Games: Judo – Team Event |29 August 2023

The Seychellois officials. From left to right: Steven Joubert, Ravi Valmont, Marie-Annette Vidot and Terry Mothé (Photo: Roland Duval)

Team Seychelles loses to Mauritius and Madagascar in the bronze medal finals

Yesterday was the final day of the judo competition at the ongoing 11th Indian Ocean Islands Games in Madagascar where both Seychelles selections missed out on the bronze medals, losing the third-place contests to Mauritius and Madagascar in the team event.

In the women’s competition held at the Ankatso Gymnasium in Antananarivo, Team Seychelles, made up of Amandah Payet (+70kg), Murella Créa (-63kg), Denarah Fred (-70kg), Fredrah Rose (-57kg) and Eisha Bellard were drawn in group A with Reunion.

Drawn straight into the semifinals because there were only two countries in the group, Seychelles lost three of their five scheduled bouts, sending Reunion straight to the final, while our local judokas qualified for the third-place final, having a go at the bronze medal.

The first three judokas against Reunion were Créa, Rose and Bellard.

In the third-place final against Mauritius the trio lost again to give the Mauritians a 3-0 win and the bronze medal.

In the men’s competition, Team Seychelles made up of Rovernie Pillay (-66kg), Dominique Dugasse (+90kg), Neddy Philoé (73kg), Derrick Croisée (81kg) and Ruben Edmond (90kg) – were up against Mayotte in the preliminaries, where Pillay, Dugasse, and Croisée lost their bouts, while Philoé was the only judoka to register victory, hence Mayotte won the series 3-1.

The defeat sent the local judokas in the third-place final were they were up against hosts Madagascar.

In the third-place final, Lionel Savy replaced Dugasse who had sustained a shoulder injury.

As it was the case for the women’s team, the men lost 0-3 with Croisée, Philoé, and Edmond losing their fights.

Commenting on the team’s performance, president of the Seychelles Judo Federation (SJF) Sandra Jeanne noted that based on the preparation time prior to the Games, she is satisfied with the results, taking into account that most of the local judokas are still young, and were competing against seasoned opponents who have been exposed at continental and world levels.

She added that the group is a very strong and promising one, and given the right opportunities, in terms of exposure, especially at international level, they will be a force to be reckoned with at the next Indian Ocean Islands Games.

Team Seychelles won two medals at the 11th Games, one silver by Payet, and a bronze, courtesy of Dugasse.

It is to note that other than the athletes, Seychelles was being represented at the Games by four officials, namely Steven Joubert, Ravi Valmont, Marie-Annette Vidot and Terry Mothé.

Roland Duval