French titular judoka: "I will try to become a world champion in Baku again" - PHOTO

Baku. 12 September. REPORT.AZ/ "Preparation for the world championship has begun long before. The race will take place for the first time at the end of September. Therefore, I am very excited"; member of the French women's judo national team, Clarisse Agbegnenou said while commenting on preparations for the World Championship in Baku. The 63-kg titular judoka said the main competitors will be Tina Trstenjak of Slovenia who defeated her in the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Summer Olympics final and Miku Tashiro of Japan: "I respect all of my opponents. But Trstenjak and Tashiro are the strongest. I will try to become a world champion again."

Togo-born Agbegnenou shared her views on Azerbaijani judokas: "The Azerbaijani men's national judo team is really very strong. I think they will win medals. I wish success to all of them."

26-year-old Agbegnenou is the winner of the 2014 and 2017 world championships. The female athlete, who won the gold medal at the European Championship in Tel Aviv this year, has twice been the strongest in the continent.

She won a bronze medal in the individual competition and a gold medal in the mixed team competition at the Baku 2015 European Games.

Notably, the World Judo Championship will be held at the National Gymnastics Arena on September 20-27.