All Africa games: Algeria shines in judo, swimming

15/07/2007

Algeria has 11 gold medals so far in the competition, nine from judo. South Africa still leads the medals table with 12 gold.

By Lyes Aflou for Magharebia in Algiers – 15/07/07

[Getty Images] Algeria's Salim Iles poses with his gold medal after winning the men's 100m freestyle swimming event, and setting a new All Africa Games record on Saturday (July 14th).

With nine golds in judo alone, Algeria managed to bring its total number of gold medals won in the ninth All Africa Games to 11. On Saturday (July 14th), the host nation won three gold medals and one bronze in judo. Mohamed Bouaichaoui beat Senegal’s Diegy Backley in the open category by ippon. Omar Rebbahi (under 60 kg) ousted Ali Attef of Egypt by ippon, while Meriem Moussa (under 48 kg) gained the upper hand over Mbouba Ilendu of Gabon, also by ippon. Soheir Madani won a bronze by overcoming Bolly of Senegal by ippon. On Friday, Algeria bagged four gold medals in judo courtesy of Amar Meridja (under 73kg), Benamadi Mounir (under 66kg), Leila Atrous (under 57kg) and Kahina Saadi (under 63kg).

In swimming, Algeria won its first-ever gold medal on Friday thanks to Nabil Kebbab, who was victorious in the 200m freestyle event. The Algerian managed to beat the Games record for the 200m freestyle of 1:52.68 with a time of 1:50.30. Kebbab also won a silver in the 4x200m freestyle relay. The competition was dominated by South Africa, however, which captured five gold medals in the pool.

Salim Iles won another gold for Algeria in swimming in the 100m freestyle on Saturday, beating the African Games record with a time of 49.38 seconds in the Olympic Swimming Pool at the Mohamed Boudiaf complex. The previous African Games record of 50.44 seconds for the 100m freestyle had been set by Kenya’s Jason Dunford. Nabil Kabbab came in second at 49.82 seconds while Dunford, the previous record-holder, had to settle for the bronze medal.

In the women’s swimming competition, the gold went to Kirsty Coventry of Zimbabwe, who beat the Games record of 1:02.89 with a time of 1:01.28. The silver went to Melissa Corse of South Africa (1:05.64), while Algeria's Lahmar Karima took the bronze.

In the men’s 50m breaststroke, Cameroon’s Bourgh Vahper snatched the gold medal, clocking 27.74 seconds. The silver was taken by Phapang Moeketsane of South Africa (28.89 seconds), while Malick Fall of Senegal took bronze.

Friday saw the beginning of the long-distance swimming events in Blida, in which six countries are taking part: Algeria, South Africa, Botswana, Kenya, Swaziland and Libya. The competitors swam a distance of 50km at the venue of Maramane. This is the first time such endurance events have been included in the African Games.

In handball, Angola overcame Tunisia 30-29 on Saturday in the Salle Omnisports in Tipasa on the first day of the women’s tournament.

Daryl Impay of South Africa won the cycling event, which began on Saturday morning and saw 111 cyclists set off from the town hall of Kolea (wilaya of Tipasa) on a journey of 180 kilometres. Freicalsy Oumbassay took the silver and Tunisia's Raffaa Chetoui won the bronze.