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Morocco dominate Karate competition at African Youth Games

2018-08-01

Morocco dominate Karate competition at African Youth Games

The 3rd edition of the African Youth Games finished this past week in Algeria with Moroccan young athletes topping the final medal table of the event. Egypt and hosts of Algeria also completed successful performances as African youngsters demonstrated their abilities at the event which was held in Alger. 

The 3rd edition of the African Youth Games finished this past week in Algeria with Moroccan young athletes topping the final medal table of the Karate competition. Egypt and hosts of Algeria also completed successful performances as African youngsters demonstrated their abilities at the event which was held in Alger. 

Moroccan promising karatekas showed power at El Biar sports hall after claiming five gold medals to a total tally of eight awards. Salma Ouhammad opened the count of honours for the Moroccan delegation taking the top spot in Female Kumite -48kg. Sara Slassi followed suit and took gold in Female Kumite -53kg while Fatima-Zahra Chajai dominated the competition in Female Kumite -59kg. In male categories, the gold medallists for Morocco were Oussama Edari, in Male Kumite -55kg and Yassine Sekouri in Male Kumite -68kg. 

With a final tally of ten medals, Egypt took the second spot of the medal table of the Karate competition. Four of the representatives of the African powerhouse of the sport managed to reach the top of the podium thus completing a remarkable performance at the event for the Egyptian delegation. Karim Ghaly prevailed in Male Kata while Yasmin Elhawary dominated the competition in Female Kumite +59kg. The other two gold medals for Egypt came in Male Kumite categories since Amr Aboukora prevailed in Male Kumite -55kg and Taha Mahmoud took gold in Male Kumite +76kg. 

Local Karate fans also had plenty of reasons to celebrate since representatives of hosts of Algeria climbed to the top of the podium four times. The success of the organising country was especially remarkable in the Kata competition after taking three out of the four gold medals at stake in the category of choreographed movements. Kenza Belabbas prevailed in Individual Female Kata and the two Kata teams excelled in both male and female competitions. The fourth gold for hosts came by the hands of Oussama Baha Eddine Zitouni in Male Kumite -76kg. 

The 3rd African Youth Games was held in Alger (Algeria) from July 19 to 28 with the Karate competition taking place on July 26 and 27.