Day 13: Algerian men, Moroccan women advance in athletics
2008-08-21
Two Moroccan women qualified for the 1500m finals, while two Algerian men moved ahead in the 800m event.
Mona Yahia in Tunis, Mawassi Lahcen in Casablanca and Nazim Fethi in Algiers contributed to this report – 21/08/08
 [Getty Images] Algeria's Nabil Madi came in first in his heat of the 800m men's semi-finals on Day 13 of the Beijing Olympics. |
Tunisian freestyle wrestler Adnan Rhimi was eliminated in the first round of the 84kg contests on Thursday (August 21st), losing 4-1 to Armenia's Harutyun Yenokyan. Rhimi noted at the conclusion of the match that he could was unable to get into the spirit of the match against the spectacularly fit Armenian, especially given the friction of the mat. He added that he was not at his best, and that he went through the game feeling shackled.
In athletics, Morocco's Siham Hilali and Btissam Lakhouad qualified to the final round of the women 1500m race, scheduled for Saturday (August 23rd). Both runners came in third in their respective heats during Thursday's semi-finals. Morocco's Bouchra Chaabi finished last in her group, failing to qualify. Algerian Nihada Touhami's hopes for advancement evaporated when she placed 11th in her heat of the semi-finals.
In the men's 800m race, Algeria's Nabil Madi and Nadjim Manseur both pulled off qualifications to the final. Madi came in first in his heat, with a time of 1:45.63, while Nadjim Manseur placed 4th in his group, although with a faster time of 1:45.54. The two athletes hope to relive the success of Guerni Said Djabir, who took the bronze medal at the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney and became world champion in Paris in 2003. Moroccan hopeful Amine Laalou came in fourth in his heat and did not qualify to the last round of competition.
Looking ahead, Morocco's Mouna Benabderrassoul will face off against Japan's Yoriko Okamoto in the -67kg category of the taekwondo competition on Friday. Abderrassoul said she hopes to show that she deserves her title of African Champion after making it to the quarter-finals of the 2004 Olympics in Athens.
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Amina Posted 2008-08-22
Algeria’s athletics participation was catastrophic during these Olympic Games. The federation leaders need to resign because they have done nothing for the federation. Nothing has been achieved since the games in Sydney, or, in other words, eight years ago!
جزائريه مخنوقـــــــــــــــه Posted 2008-08-22
Except the judo in which two medals were won; in boxing, our boxers could have won medals if there were no arbitration injustices, the Algerian participation was weak if not shameful. The women's volleyball team was navigating on the pitch. It has learned real lessons in this sport. In wrestling, it has participated with three wrestlers who were all eliminated in the first round. In swimming, educational scholarships and training in the United States was of no use. Our swimmers have obviously shown that they are far from the world level. No one of them was able to reach the second round. The catastrophe came with athletics which disappointed us in Beijing as they did in Athens. Mass eliminations since the first round. They insist on calling athletes who have shown on many occasions that their level is modest including Nahida Touhami and Kamal Boulhafne. However, the biggest disappointment came from Boukenza and Zerk El Ain who have proven that they aren’t the men of big events. On the other side, Ait Salem wasn’t an exception to the rule. She entered in the modest ninth rank in the marathon. Baya Rehouli participated while she was injured. This makes us wonder about use of its participation without forgetting the negative participations of Siaf and Mekhloufi. After all this, I wonder what the real causes of these farces are. What are the criteria adopted in choosing athletes of the national team? Are they chosen on the national level? Do bribery and favouritism enter into consideration in that choice? Are officials in charge of athletics aware of the scandal they committed against the Algerian people? Or is the matter for them no more than spending a holiday in Beijing and it is over? Do they think that Algerians will be happy with living on memories of Boulmerka, Moursseli, Merah even if they are aware that Algerian women haven’t stopped bearing champions?
sami Posted 2008-08-23
Peace, mercy and blessings of God be upon you. God willing Algeria will win a gold medal. Your brother Sami from Algeria.
abdou Posted 2008-08-23
God willing, a gold to Algerian Nabil Madi
امال Posted 2008-08-24
Concerning Mona Benabderassoul, I hoped that she would win a silver or gold medal. All Moroccans should support this Moroccan champion.
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