FRA - Godin scoops place after wins over Croatia, Canada
LYON (FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament for Women) – Elodie Godin has proved her fitness to France coach Pierre Vincent and taken the 12th and final spot on the team’s roster for the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament for Women (OQTW). The 1.90m power forward was an uncertainty due to a back injury but she played more than 12 minutes in ...
LYON (FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament for Women) – Elodie Godin has proved her fitness to France coach Pierre Vincent and taken the 12th and final spot on the team’s roster for the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament for Women (OQTW).
The 1.90m power forward was an uncertainty due to a back injury but she played more than 12 minutes in Friday’s 73-69 win over Croatia and Saturday’s 66-41 triumph over Canada.
Her performances convinced Vincent and the team’s medical staff that she will be able to contribute at the OQTW in Ankara.
Had Godin not been passed fit, Vincent would have taken Marielle Amant but the 1.90m forward has missed out.
Also in the France side that will take on Canada and Mali in Group D of the OQTW are Clémence Beikes, Jennifer Digbeu, Céline Dumerc, Emilie Gomis, Sandrine Gruda, Marion Laborde, Edwige Lawson-Wade, Florence Lepron, Endéné Miyem, Emmeline Ndongue and Isabelle Yacoubou.
If the French do take one of the five berths to the London Games at the OQTW in Ankara, the last three players to have been cut - Anaël Lardy, Diandra Tchatchouang and Amant – will rejoin the squad at Deauville for training 6-12 July ahead of the Olympics.
"Today, the France group, 15 players are working for one goal: qualifying Team France for the Olympic Games in London,” Vincent said.
“We have announced the names of the 12 players who will go to Turkey to try to win our Olympic ticket.
“This is a specific mission and we have put together a team that seems best able to carry out this mission.”
In their victories over Croatia and Canada, France showed themselves to be one of the favourites to qualify for the Olympics.
Gruda had 13 points and Dumerc 11 in the victory over the Croatians while in the blowout of the Canadians, Gruda poured in 15 points and grabbed 10 rebounds.
France appear to have a considerable advantage in the frontcourt against the Canadians because in addition to Gruda, Ndongue had 12 points and Miyem 10.
Gomis, the team’s shooting guard/small forward, also came up big with 12 points and six rebounds.
FIBA