Ngayap-Hambou silences Tbilisi crowd with bronze-medal statement

Maxime-Gael Ngayap-Hambou produced one of the standout moments of the -90 kg competition in Tbilisi. The French judoka, who had already shown his level before Paris and then captured Olympic bronze in 2024, proved again that he can handle the biggest stages. This time, he did it in an arena roaring for someone else.

His route was not smooth from start to finish. After early wins, he ran into Romania’s Alex Cret in the quarter-final and was stopped there, a result that forced him into repechage. It was a setback, but not the end of his day.

That response said a lot about his current level. Ngayap-Hambou regrouped well, defeated Ivanov of Bulgaria and moved into the bronze-medal contest. The opponent turned out to be Lasha Bekauri, the current and double Olympic champion, fighting at home in front of a deeply invested Georgian crowd.

Few arenas feel louder than one backing Bekauri in Georgia.

When the medal bout began, the noise inside the Olympic Palace was intense. Ngayap-Hambou never looked rattled. He scored twice against Bekauri for Waza-ari and closed the contest with Waza-ari-awasete-ippon, turning one of the most difficult settings in European judo into a major result.

What made the performance even stronger was his control. After the first score was initially called Ippon and then reviewed, he stayed switched on and ready to restart. That focus, combined with a clear tactical idea against Bekauri’s right side, made the difference.

This bronze means Ngayap-Hambou has now reached the senior European Championships podium for the second straight year. For France, it is another sign that one of its rising names is building real momentum. For European judo fans, it was a reminder that composure under pressure can be just as powerful as any throw.

Source: EJU_News