KONYA (Turkey) – Algerian judoka Sonia Asselah won a silver medal at the Islamic Solidarity Games currently underway in Konya (Turkey), after her defeat in the final over 78 kilos, disputed Tuesday afternoon against Turkish Kayra Sayit, when her compatriot Kaouthar Ouallal settled for bronze in the under 78 kilos, after her victory in “the small final” against Cameroonian Arrey Sophina Ayuk Otay.
Algeria entered a total of five judokas in this second day of competition, including three men, who unlike the women experienced relatively early eliminations.
Indeed, Achour Denni was eliminated in the first round in the under 81 kilos, after his defeat against Bahraini Askerbii Gerbekov, while Lokmane Daroul was exempted from the first round in the under 90 kilos, before being eliminated as soon as he entered the competition, in the second round, after his defeat against the Senegalese Abderahmane Diao.
Same case for Mohamed Sofiane Belrekaâ in the over 100 kilos, who was exempted from the first round, before being eliminated in the second round, after his defeat against Bahrain Azamat Chotchaev. The Algerian received a second chance at the repechage but failed against Azeri Imran Yusifov.
Monday, during the first day of competition, the Algerian selection had managed a much better course, since it had gleaned three medals: 1 gold, 1 silver and 1 bronze.
The gold medal was the work of the experienced Belkadi Amina in the under 63 kilos, after her final victory against Turkey’s Seyma Ozerler, while Yamina Halata had settled for silver, after her defeat in under 57 kg final against Nilufar Ermaganbetova of Uzbekistan.
For her part, Imène Rezzoug had gleaned the bronze in the under 48 kilos, and it is the case to say that she had come a long way to win this medal, because after an early elimination in her pool, the Algerian had to go through the repechages to get on the podium.
The other four Algerian judokas engaged during this first day of competition were less fortunate, since their respective adventures turned out relatively short.
They are Billel Yagoubi (-60 kg), Boubekeur Rebahi (-66 kg), and Houd Zourdani (-73 kg) for men, as well as Faïza Aïssahine (-52 kg) for women.
Yagoubi had won his first fight against the Chadian Ibrahim Issa Chani, before losing in the second, against Hakberdi Jumayev (Turkmenistan). The Algerian certainly received a second chance at the repechage, to eventually win the bronze, but he lost against the Kazakh Seilkhan Kanat.
In the under 66 kilos, Boubekeur Rebahi began by winning his first fight against Chadian Oumar Hissein, before losing in the next round against Bahrain’s Ramazan Kodzhakov. An early elimination, which did not even entitle him to the repechage.
For her part, Faïza Aïssahine had made an excellent start to her career, but she finally had to settle for a modest fifth place, after her defeat in the semi-finals against Moroccan Soumaya Iraoui.
The Algerian had started by winning her first two fights, respectively against Qatari Fatena Bu-Qahoss and Cameroonian Marie Celine Baba Matia, before losing in the decisive fight for bronze, against Turkish Ilayda Merve Kocyigit.
Exempted from the first round, Houd Zourdani entered the competition directly in the second round, where he dominated the Senegalese Serigne Gaye, before losing in the next round, against the Turkish Uma Demirel. Zourdani received a second chance at the repechage, but lost to Azeri Telman Valiyev.
Algeria therefore ends the individual events of these Islamic Solidarity Games with a total of five medals: 1 gold, 2 silver and 2 bronze.
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