At the title fights in Abu Dhabi, Anna-Maria Wagner provided the German highlight with gold
The German Judo Federation (DJB) team finished fifth in the team competition at the end of the World Championships in Abu Dhabi. In the decisive match against Georgia, the team of national coach Pedro Guedes, who competed without world champion Anna-Maria Wagner, lost 1:4. Germany had also finished fifth at the last World Championships.
An opening win against Kazakhstan was followed by a defeat against Japan, and the team led by Selja Ballhaus – twin sister of World Championship bronze medallist and Olympic participant Mascha Ballhaus – ended up in the consolation round. Although Germany lost to South Korea, the opposing team was disqualified after a protest by the DJB, and the duel for bronze with Georgia followed.
At the World Championships in Abu Dhabi, Wagner had won gold in the 78 kg category and a ticket to the Olympic Games in Paris. Mascha Ballhaus also secured her place at the Summer Games. In the men’s competition, Igor Wandtke will be in France via the team ticket after finishing fifth in the 73 kg category. The qualification phase for the Olympics was concluded with the World Championships in the Persian Gulf