On Saturday, Morocco distinguished itself on the third day of the African Karate Championships being held at the Complexe Mohammed V in Casablanca, bringing the total medal count to 22 (11 gold, 4 silver and 7 bronze).
In the junior under 61 kg category, Morocco’s Samir Sadini took the top step of the podium, beating Egypt’s Yasin Hassen in the final.
His compatriot Mohammed-Amine Badjou, competing in the under 68 kg (junior) category, won the gold medal after beating the Egyptian Ahmed Abouelrous.
In the under 76 kg category, Morocco’s Salah-Eddine El Bahry took gold after beating the other Egyptian, Youssef Farag, while Morocco’s Doae Choukri (under 59 kg) was crowned African champion, beating Tunisia’s Ranim Ben Hassen.
In the junior over 66 kg category, Aya Labid won the continental title at the expense of Tunisia’s Meriame Ettaleb.
The silver medals won by Moroccan athletes on the day went to Douaa El Machouat (-48 kg/juniors) and Nejma Imitik (-53 kg juniors). Bronze medals went to Marwane Tchich (juniors/-55kg), Othmane Hebbal (juniors/+76kg) and the senior men’s team.
In the medals table, Morocco was ahead of Egypt and Tunisia.
The various finals of these African championships were marked by a high technical level, Said Cherrat, vice-president of the Fédération toyale marocaine de karaté et disciplines associées (FRMKDA), organizer of the event, told MAP.
It’s a celebration of African karate,” enthused Cherrat, who is also the director of this year’s event, noting that this grandiose sporting event, which will see the organization of the 22nd Senior, 14th Junior, 6th Cadet and 1st Parakarate African Championships, has been a resounding success at all levels.
No fewer than 1,000 people, including athletes, staff and judges, took part in these events, he added, pointing to Morocco’s accumulated experience in organizing major events.
Emphasizing that the performances achieved by Moroccan karatekas confirm the work carried out by the FRMKDA to promote this discipline, he pointed out that Morocco, through the Mohammed VI International Karate Cup, which celebrated its 17th anniversary this year, is now a prime destination for world karate.
Thanks to the national karate center, budding Moroccan champions have been able to shine and compete with the best African karatekas.
Under the aegis of the World Karate Federation (WKF), the African Championship brings together the best karatekas on the African continent.
Several meetings of the executive board of the African Karate Union were held in conjunction with this championship, in addition to a General Assembly of the countries of the North African zone, marked by the election of Mohamed Moktabil, President of the FRMKDA, as head of this regional body.
The 2023 edition, organized under the aegis of the Ministry of National Education, Preschool and Sports, will see record participation of over 1,000 athletes, coaches, technical staff, referees and committee members from more than 27 countries.
The national colors were defended at this year’s event by 49 karatekas, including 3 representing the disabled category.