The Slovenia Times

Andreja Leški wins silver at Judo Worlds

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Judoka Andreja Leški.
Photo: Bojan Kralj/STA
File photo

Judoka Andreja Leški won silver for Slovenia at the World Championships in Doha on 10 May, having to concede to multiple world and Olympic champion Clarisse Agbegnenou of France in the final yet again.

Competing in the under 63kg category, Leški had also won silver at the 2021 World Championships in Budapest after being defeated by Agbegnenou in the final.

Her feat increases Slovenia's tally of medals at such events to 15.

The 26-year-old Slovenian had lost all her four duels with the 30-year-old French judo superstar so far, but this time her chances appeared to be better with Agbegnenou back after an 18-month break and maternity leave.

Both had quite a few opportunities in what was a very evenly matched final, but it was Agbegnenou's throw with half a minute to go and her finishing grip in the follow-up that decided the winner.

Agbegnenou set off in a more determined way and Leški soon received a penalty, but then the Slovenian regained her balance perfectly and the Frenchwoman got a warning too.

"I'm back, I've been here all the time. I wouldn't settle for silver after the semis. I went up, showed all I had up my sleeve. A mistake cost me the red patch worn by the world champions, but I'm happy," said Leški.

In the semis, she defeated six years her junior Joanne van Lieshout of the Netherlands after extra time.

Lieshout and Hungarian Szofi Özbas won bronzes.

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