| Country’s flag bearers train twice a day ahead of Olympic qualifying tournament |
Madagascar will have three representatives in the qualifying tournament for the Paris Olympics, in Senegal. They have been in intensive grouping since this weekend.
Fifth attempt. Madagascar will field three fighters in the Olympic qualifying tournament in Dakar, the Senegalese capital, on February 10 and 11. Those selected, after the test at the beginning of December, have been in intensive regrouping since this weekend, at the Sonrang dojang in Andavamamba. “We mainly focus on mental work, in addition to tactical work, and on strengthening physical condition (…) We also watch combat videos,” explains the national coach, Narinja Ramanantsoa.
“We are in the process of reviewing all the practical techniques and rectifying the errors. We will do our best to qualify. It’s an opportunity not to be overlooked as an athlete (…) The continental level is very high, because most of the competitors have international experience, but we also took the preparation seriously. Each fighter has the ambition to achieve victory and we are mentally ready,” confides Nerson Mampionona Njakarimanana of the ATF of Atsinanana, best fighter of the last Korean Ambassador’s Cup, double champion of Madagascar seniors and medalist of gold of the Island Games.
Confident
The national champion and winner of the Korean Ambassador’s Cup in the -68kg category, Bradley Rasolohery of the Sonrang club, reassures, for his part: “We will fight hard to validate the Olympic qualification and represent the country, to the first time, at the Olympics. We are following intensive preparation and we will be ready on time.”
“We will intensify the preparation to be up to this qualifying tournament. It won’t be easy, but I’m confident. The African level is, of course, very high, but we are preparing well to be ready to fight and we will see in battle,” says the only girl on the national team, Florentine Razafindrabe. She is a three-time champion of Madagascar (2019, 2021, 2022), holder of the Korean Ambassador’s Cup and JIOI silver medalist.
The national team trains twice a day. Two per category, that is to say the finalists, will qualify for the Paris Olympics. The delegation will fly to Senegal on February 7, but it is still awaiting validation of state support.
Serge Rasanda