After four days of competition, the 43rd edition of the African Senior Championships (Men and Women) ended on Sunday, in Oran, with the mixed team events in the categories -57 kg, 173 kg, -70 kg, -90 kg, +70 kg and +90 kg. Algeria climbs to the top step of the podium.
By Sadek Belkheir
This last day was marked by the presence of former judo figures, national or foreign, and personalities from the African Judo Union (AJU), the IJF, as well as senior officials from participating countries, including Cameroon and the Senegal.
In terms of results, after a good harvest of individual medals, this last day was beneficial for Algerian judo with the consecration of the mixed national team which won the title of African champion. EN first won at the expense of Cameroon in the playoffs. Subsequently, the Algerian capés were opposed to the strong team of Senegal, which easily qualified, as for it, in the round of the playoffs against Morocco. Thus, after several fights, it was the Algerian Yamina Halata (-57 kg), who fixed the fate of the final of the African championship by allowing Algeria to win 4 – 2. Halata was the fourth element of the national team to have won his fight, after Redouane Messaoud (-73 kg), Souad Bellakhal (-70 kg) and Souad Asselah (-70 kg). For their part, Abderrahmane Benamadi (-90 kg) and Mohamed Berrakaa (+ 90 kg), lost to the Senegalese Diao and Ndye.
In the general classification, after this team final, Algeria reaches the highest step of the podium, followed, respectively, by Senegal, Morocco and Cameroon. The latter two won against Angola and Mauritius.
At the end of these African championships, the Algerian participation was more than satisfactory since the objective, at the start, was the improvement of the results compared to the previous edition of Senegal, where Algeria had collected at least total only 12 medals including 3 gold. Regarding the Algerian individual participation, our judokas won 1st place, after winning 7 gold medals out of a total of 15 medals (7 gold, 3 silver and 5 bronze).
IMPORTANT
** Obaid Al-Anzi, the vice-president of the International Judo Federation, and representative of Marius Vizer, the president, presented a high distinction to the president of the African Judo Union, Siteny Randriana Soloniaiko, and to Yacine Silini , the president of the FAJ, the grade of 7th Dan approved by the IJF.
** Master Ahmed Hifri met the Frenchman Paul Delormas, who is also a coach of the International Judo Federation, who gave him a Japanese belt coming directly from the KodoKan in Tokyo. This national judo authority and international expert also met a long-time friend, who is none other than the former world judo champion, the Frenchman Jean Luc Rougé, currently Secretary General of the International Judo Federation, with whom he brought back the good memories.
**The wali of Oran Said Sayoud, organized, in the evening, at the end of the African championships, a reception for the judo family, in the presence of officials from the IJF, the AJU, the FAJ, members of the CIJM and the COJM. Several of them were honored. This reception ended with a souvenir photo.
Sadek B.
Impressions… Impressions… Impressions…
Yacine Silini (president of the FAJ):
“These are results that honor Algerian judo, which is coming back in force. Our efforts and our preparation for this 43rd edition have not been in vain. We can only be satisfied, in view of the beautiful harvest of 15 medals, 7 in gold, 3 in silver and 5 in bronze. I strongly congratulate our champions who distinguished themselves to win the trophy and the title of African champion. They will be even more motivated for the JM. I would like to thank the high national authorities, for their unfailing support, especially for our preparation in anticipation of the World Youth Days, as well as the MJS, the COA, the COJM and all those who helped us. Through this 43rd edition, we represented Algeria, as it should, and the African bodies of the AJU and international bodies of the IJF”
Ahmed Moussa (men’s national team coach):
“I can only be happy with this consecration deserved by our selection, which beat the Senegal team holder of the title. Our results are positive and the merit goes first of all to the athletes, for their efforts and their self-sacrifice, to the officials of the FAJ and to all the coaches. Our mission was not at all easy against Senegal. This consecration will motivate us even more in anticipation of the JM »
Kahina Saidi (women’s national team coach):
“Our objective has been achieved and our results are positive at the end of these African championships, unlike the previous edition where we did not win any gold medals. This time with the efforts of all and the new direction of the FAJ, things have changed a lot for the athletes, from every point of view. Their consecration will motivate them even more especially with the approach of the JM. As a former judo athlete and current national coach, I tell our girls to work harder and make more sacrifices, because the best is yet to come. Our girls will only benefit from a few days of rest before returning to training during a regrouping in Algiers.
Abdou Karim Sek (men’s coach of Senegal):
“This is the third time that our selection has finished in second place. In 2020, we lose against Algeria, in 2021 against Tunisia. I was disappointed with the performance of my athletes individually, but as a team they did what they could and the last fight made the decision. I congratulate the Algerian team for its consecration. As for us, we will continue to work, in order to correct our faults in order to properly address future international deadlines”.
Sadek B.
BOX
Medal table:
Or argent bronze 1- Algeria 7 3 5
2- Tunisia 3 4 2
3- Morocco 1 2 5
4- Maurice 1 1 1
5- Egypt 1 0 3
6- Angola 1 0 1
7- Cameroon 0 1 4
8- Af. Sud 0 1 3
9- Senegal 0 1 1
10- Cap Vert 0 1 0
Ranking by team:
1- Algeria
2- Senegal
3- Morocco and Cameroon
5- Angola and Mauritius.
BOX
Kaouthar Ouallal, a talented African champion
She is an athlete full of will, who won the title of African Champion 2022 in the -78 kg category. Kaouthar Ouallal thus confirms his domination and all his talent. She distinguished herself by a victory by ippon in the quarter-final against the South African Katja Lang. In the semi-finals, the Algerian got rid of the Cameroonian Moune Djengue following an excellent hansoku-make. In the final, Kaouthar Ouallal defeated, again by ippon, the Cameroonian Sophina Arrey.
His 3 previous best performances:
- African Championship 2021, gold medalist.
- 2020 African Championship, gold medalist.
- 2019 African Championship, gold medalist.
