Algerian Radio
Algerian judokas Ala-Eddine Sahraoui (-55 kg) and Anès Toumi (-60 kg) each won a gold medal at the international "Dakar African Open" tournament currently underway in Senegal, following their final victories in the cadet category against Frenchman Dylan Andrianjafintsalama and Burundian Kevin N'Dayizeye, respectively.
Placed in Pool B of the under 55 kg category, Ala-Eddine Sahraoui qualified directly for the semi-finals following the withdrawal of his only opponent, Senegalese Aliou Sambou.
Following this, the young Algerian international dominated Moroccan Marouane El Ammari to advance to the final, where he defeated Frenchman Dylan Andrianjafintsalama, claiming first place and the accompanying gold medal.
His compatriot Anès Toumi was placed in Pool D of the under 60 kg category, where he received a bye in the first round. He therefore needed only one victory, against Liechtensteiner Nik Foser, to qualify for the semi-finals. There, he dominated Indian Nanao Singh Ningthoujam, booking his ticket to the final, where he defeated Burundian Kevin N'Dayizeye.
This marks a second medal for Toumi in the span of 24 hours, following the bronze medal he won the day before in the individual events of the junior category.
Sunday will see the seniors enter the fray, and Algeria will be the most represented country in these events, with no fewer than 31 judokas entered, including 20 in the men's category alone.
The men's roster includes Mounir Benyahia (-60 kg), Younès Ben Laribi (-60 kg), Kaïs Moudetere (-66 kg), Ayoub Ben Laribi (-73 kg), Houd Zourdani (-73 kg), Djeddi Oussama (-73 kg), Dris Messaoud (-73 kg), Oussama Hezil (-73 kg), Ahmed Rebahi (-81 kg), Abdelmoumène Haouam (-81 kg), Mohamed Bakhti (-81 kg), Abdeslam Belbelhout (-81 kg), Sid Ali Benaboura (-90 kg), Mohamed Dif (-90 kg), Lokmane Daroul (-90 kg), Oussama Kabri (-90 kg), Rayane Benatia (-100 kg), Abdelkader Lakhal (-100 kg), Mohamed El Mahdi Lili (+100 kg), and Samir Moulla (+100 kg).
In the women's category, the national colors will be represented by Rahma Ghalima (-48 kg), Houaria Kaddour (-48 kg), Lycia Guebli (-52 kg), Nourhane Ghazali (-57 kg), Dounia Berrahouel (-57 kg), Amina Berrahouel (-57 kg), Khadija Bekheira (-57 kg), Yasmine Djellab (-63 kg), Amina Rezzoug (-70 kg), Lydia Kechout (-78 kg), and Dyhia Benchalal (+78 kg).
According to the organizers, 167 judokas (106 men and 61 women), representing 29 countries from four continents, have confirmed their participation in the senior category, with the competition scheduled for a single day this Sunday.
With 26 judokas entered, host country Senegal will be the second most represented nation in this tournament, ahead of Angola (14) and Niger (13), while some nations like Romania, South Africa, and Mali have entered only one athlete.
