BERKACH Abdelaziz

In a sporting atmosphere full of enthusiasm, the curtain fell on Sunday September 28 on the competitions of the African Hand-to-Hand Fighting Championship and associated disciplines, organized at the indoor hall of Sidi Youssef Ben Ali – Sebâa in Marrakech.

The event brought together an elite of African and Moroccan athletes, under the supervision of a high-level Russian delegation chaired by international expert Sergei Astakhov, holder of the 8th dan black belt.

In an exclusive statement in English granted to the Discovery Morocco channel, Astakhov praised the level of organization and technical quality of this competition, organized for the first time in Morocco.

This major continental meeting was supervised by an international arbitration body composed of Moroccan and foreigners.

Several important figures from the world of martial arts were also present, including professor Mohamed Dallal, world champion Hamza Ejik, as well as a group of experienced masters who contributed to the success of this sporting event, marked by a strong participation of Moroccan and African athletes. Note that the Egyptian selection was forced to withdraw at the last minute due to problems related to the visas of certain athletes.

The final day, dedicated to the elimination fights and the finals, was marked by an intense competition between the Moroccan champions and their Senegalese counterparts, who demonstrated a high technical level in different weight categories.

The electric atmosphere in the packed stands helped make the clashes even more spectacular. However, Moroccan athletes had the last laugh, winning the majority of the finals and finishing on top of the overall medal standings ahead of Senegal and Somalia.

Russian master Sergei Astakhov made a special mention of the performances of the fighters of the Ejik Ourika Sports Association, led by international champion Hamza Ejik. Athlete Ibrahim Haim particularly stood out by winning the gold medal and first African place in the under 88 kg category, while his teammate Achraf Aït Addi won the silver medal in the 57 kg category after an intense duel against the Senegalese Mamadou Barro. Many other Moroccan champions from clubs in Essaouira, Chichaoua and other cities also shone, winning several gold and silver medals.

Thanks to these performances, Morocco rose to first place in the continental ranking, thus ensuring its representation in the next Arab, African and international meetings, and once again confirming the presence remarkable national talent in this combat sports discipline.