Judo-Frenchman Riner improves to reach +100kg semis and raise home hopes

PARIS :French judoka Teddy Riner raised his level to book a spot in the semi-finals of the men's +100kg category, beating Georgia's Guram Tushishvili at the Paris Games on Friday to stay on course for a fourth Olympic gold medal.

Riner, who laboured past Magomedomar Magomedomarov of the United Arab Emirates in the last 16, won by ippon.

Tushishvili also got a red card for putting his leg into Riner's crotch and his hand on the Frenchman's face at the end of the bout and has been disqualified, meaning the Georgian cannot fight for a bronze medal.

He will also not be allowed to take part in the team event after being disqualified from the Games altogether, the International Judo Federation said.

Japan's Tatsuru Saito, who is on a final collision course with Riner, made an impression by taking down defending champion Lukas Krpalek of the Czech Republic by ippon with an uchi-mata after 91 seconds, before reaching the semis on a golden score.

Riner, who had a first-round bye, is chasing a French Summer Olympics record of four titles after claiming individual golds at the London and Rio Games.

The 35-year-old, who also won a team title in Tokyo three years ago, was more aggressive in his second bout to beat Tokyo silver medallist and world number four Tushishvili, ending the contest with a tani-otoshi, sending French fans into delirium.

The sound system then blasted Johnny Hallyday's "Que je t'aime" hit before the break at the Champs de Mars Arena.

Competition will resume at 1400GMT.     

Riner was undefeated in 154 fights between 2010 and 2020.

In the women's +78kg category, France's Romane Dicko, the world number one, eased her way into the semi-finals and will take on three-times world medallist Beatriz Souza of Brazil. 

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