This is a new blow for the Blue Basketball. After the leader Olivia Epoupa at the start of preparation, another executive of the France team has just withdrawn for the next World Cup which will be played in Australia from September 22 to October 1.
Victim of a calf injury, Sandrine Gruda, the emblematic captain, will not be able to hold her place for the World Cup. The 35-year-old interior underwent additional tests on Monday which “revealed a muscle injury, which will not allow her to be in full possession of her faculties in the coming weeks and during the 2022 World Cup”, indicates the French Federation in a press release.
The best scorer in the history of the France team (2,784 points in 215 selections) with her 8 international medals will leave her partners on Wednesday. Spared since the start of the preparation of the Bleues due to knee pain, Gruda had just joined the selection on Friday currently in training in Pau (south-west).
France, who dominated Bosnia (87-52) in Marseille 10 days ago in their first preparation match, will face Belgium in Pau on Friday before meeting the same opponent two days later on their ground in Courtrai, for his last preparation match before leaving for Australia on September 9.