Madagascar will be strongly represented by eight judokas at the African Open in Johannesburg, taking place on June 28.
Aiming for the podium, eight judokas are set to compete in the Johannesburg African Open, scheduled for Sunday, June 28, in South Africa. Paris 2024 Olympian Aina Laura Rasoanaivo Razafy, who was initially slated to participate solo for the second time in the Olympic circuit at the Qingdao Grand Prix in China on June 27, has decided to change course and will compete in the Johannesburg Open instead. The multi-time African champion achieved a remarkable feat by winning silver during her debut last year. Having secured a bronze medal at the recent African Championships in Nairobi, Kenya, in late April, Rasoanaivo—the African number 1 in the -70 kg category and ranked 18th in the world—will look to assert her supremacy on South African soil this Saturday.
African Adventure
Six fighters are registered in her category, including the continent’s number 2 and world number 42, Angolan judoka Lucungi Diassonema.
The majority of the representatives from the Great Island participated in the recent Nairobi summit. Among them is Fetra Ranaivoarisoa (-81 kg category), who took home a bronze medal at the 2025 Pretoria Open. The three other fighters who represented the country in Nairobi are Kevin Emilson Ralevazaha (-66 kg), Yves Rayan Ravelojaona (-83 kg), and Angelo Yacinthe Rakotonandrasana (-60 kg). The other three female representatives are also familiar with these continental opens, namely Natacha Emiliame Razafindrakalo (-48 kg category), a silver medalist at the 2025 Pretoria Open who was eliminated in the repechage at the African Championships in late April. The squad also includes Frederica Malalatiana Ralalaharisoa in the -63 kg category and Miangaly Raholiarimalala in the -52 kg category. This edition of the Johannesburg Open will bring together 521 fighters from 58 countries across five continents.
By Serge Rasanda
Captured & Published at: 2026-06-24 06:00:57 (Madagascar Local Time EAT)
Original Source: https://www.lexpress.mg/2026/06/judo-open-de-johannesburg-laura.html