On Saturday, Moroccan karate fighters distinguished themselves on the third day of the African karate championships held at the Casablanca’s Mohammed V Complex, bringing their total medal haul to 22.
Morocco’s karate teams won 11 gold medals, as well as 4 silvers, and 7 bronzes.
Among the juniors, Samir Sadini, less than 61 kilograms, bagged a gold medal by overcoming his Egyptian rival Yasin Hassen. In the -68 kilogram category, Morocco’s Mohammed-Amine Badjou also took first place against Egyptian Ahmed Abouelrous.
In the -76 kilograms category, Salah-Eddine El Bahry, like his Moroccan compatriots, grabbed a gold medal by beating Egypt’s Youssef Farag.
In the -59 kilogram category, Doae Choukri was crowned African champion against Tunisian Ranim Ben Hassen.
In the category of +66 kilograms juniors, Aya Labid clinched the continental title overcoming her Tunisian opponent Meriame Ettaleb.
Douaa El Machouat in the -48 kilograms juniors competition and Nejma Imitik in the -53 kilograms juniors category earned silver medals.
The bronze medals came from Marwane Tchich (-55 kilograms juniors), Othmane Hebbal (+76 kilograms juniors), and the senior male team.
Thus, Morocco topped the medals standings, followed by Egypt and Tunisia.
“The various finals of these African championships were marked by a high technical level,” declared Said Cherrat, Vice President of the Royal Moroccan Federation of Karate and Associated Disciplines (FRMKDA).
“It’s a feast of African Karate,” said Cherrat.
Cherrat went on to say that the karate tournaments have seen the participation of at least 1,000 participants among athletes, judges, and staff, noting that it is a sign of a cumulative Moroccan experience in the organization of such big events.
On Friday, athletes in the para karate category secured two medals.
Martial artist Said Mahmoudi clinched gold in the “para exhibition” category, while Mouad Arrid took the bronze in the “intellectual disability” category.