Tunisia will host the 17th International Rowing Competition on September 27, with 11 countries participating, including Tunisia, Algeria, Angola, Côte d'Ivoire, Egypt, Libya, Morocco, Somalia, Sudan, Senegal, and the United Arab Emirates. The competition will feature various age categories, including under 15, 17, 19, and 23 years old, as well as elite athletes, for both men and women, alongside para-rowing events.
The International Rowing Competition, which is part of the International Rowing Federation's calendar, provides an opportunity for Tunisia's elite rowers to collect points and improve their global ranking. The event will also help support the Tunisian Rowing Federation's resources by attracting participating teams. Tunisia will participate in the para-rowing event with two athletes, Hédir Ben Grib and Mohamed Islam Bouguilia, alongside Maher Rahmani.
The competitions will take place on the 2000-meter international rowing course at Lake Tunis, which has been classified as "B" by the International Rowing Federation. This classification allows the venue to host international and continental events, but not world championships, which require an "A" classification. The African Rowing Championships, scheduled for September 29-30, will feature 95 rowers from African countries competing in various categories.
The African Rowing Championships will see the participation of 95 rowers from African countries, with Tunisia represented by 20 rowers in the elite category, evenly split between men and women, and one athlete in the para-rowing event. The Tunisian team's goal is to regain its continental dominance after finishing second in the previous edition held in South Africa last year.
The Tunisian rowing team is led by experienced athletes, including Khédija and Salma El Kawakibi, who recently won a bronze medal at the World Championships in Amsterdam and the Mediterranean Games in Taranto. The men's team is led by Gheith El Kadri and Mohamed El Kawakibi, who also won a bronze medal in the mixed doubles lightweight event at the Mediterranean Games.
In the para-rowing event, Tunisia will be represented by Maher Rahmani, who has gained experience from participating in global championships and Paralympic Games. The event is expected to provide valuable exposure for Rahmani and other participating athletes.
The hosting of these events is expected to promote rowing in Tunisia and provide a platform for African rowers to compete at a high level. The competitions will also contribute to the development of rowing in the region and provide opportunities for athletes to gain experience and improve their skills.
Key points
- Tunisia to host 17th International Rowing Competition and 18th African Rowing Championships at Lake Tunis.
- 11 countries to participate in the International Rowing Competition.
- Tunisian rowing team aims to regain continental dominance in the African Championships.
