The African Karate Championships, held in Tanger, Morocco, from February 7-9, brought together a dozen national teams, including powerhouse nations like Morocco, South Africa, Senegal, Tunisia, Congo, Côte d'Ivoire, Mozambique, and Nigeria. Algeria's Cylia Ouikene and Louisa Abouriche, both from the JS Fréha club, made a strong impression, winning two gold medals and two African championship titles.
The competition was fierce, with many top-level athletes participating. However, Ouikene and Abouriche managed to stand out, impressing fans and critics alike with their skills. Ouikene recounted her experience, saying she won her first combat against a Nigerian athlete with a wide score, despite the opponent's physical advantages. She then defeated a Moroccan athlete in the final, securing her gold medal and championship title.
Ouikene expressed her emotions after winning the championship, saying she was overwhelmed with tears when she heard the Algerian national anthem and saw the flag being raised. This victory adds to her impressive record, which includes two zonal African championship titles, a world Arab championship title, and two Algerian championship titles. She now aims to win the world championship title and the Mediterranean championship at the 2021 Mediterranean Games in Oran, Algeria.
Louisa Abouriche, also from the JS Fréha club, won the same title and medal as Ouikene. She expressed her satisfaction with the outcome, saying it was a feeling of accomplishment and pride to have represented her country. Abouriche has previously won zonal African championship titles and Algerian championship titles, and she aims to win a world championship title in the future.
Both athletes acknowledged the challenges they face in pursuing their goals, citing a lack of resources and funding. They currently rely on support from local authorities and their association, and they called for more assistance to help them compete at the highest level. Their coach, Chikhi Hacène, echoed their sentiments, saying that with more experience and effort, they can dominate the world karate scene, but some basic resources are essential.
The success of Ouikene and Abouriche is a testament to their hard work and dedication. Their achievements have brought pride to Algeria, and their stories serve as an inspiration to young athletes across the country. As they look to the future, they will undoubtedly face new challenges, but their determination and passion for the sport will likely drive them to even greater heights.
The African Karate Championships provided a valuable platform for athletes to showcase their skills and compete against top-level opponents. The event demonstrated the growing popularity and competitiveness of karate in Africa, and it will be interesting to see how the sport continues to evolve on the continent in the coming years.
Key points
- Algerian karate athletes Cylia Ouikene and Louisa Abouriche won gold medals and African championship titles at the recent African Karate Championships in Tanger, Morocco.
- The athletes currently rely on limited support from local authorities and their association, and they called for more assistance to help them compete at the highest level.
- The success of Ouikene and Abouriche has brought pride to Algeria and serves as an inspiration to young athletes across the country.
