Algeria is sending a team of two women and six men to compete in wrestling at the 2024 Paris Olympics this summer, marking a historic moment for the country’s wrestling contingent.
Among the Algerian athletes are women wrestlers Ibtissem Doudou (50kg) and Chaimaa Aouissi (57kg), along with male wrestlers Abdelkarim Fergat (60kg, Greco-Roman), Ishak Ghaiou (67kg, Greco-Roman), Abdelkrim Ouakali (77kg, Greco-Roman), Bachir Sid Azzara (87kg, Greco-Roman), Fadi Rouabah (97kg, Greco-Roman), and Fateh Benferdjallah (86kg, freestyle).
Chaimaa Aouissi and Ibtissem Doudou are poised to make history and bring pride to Algeria as they aim for Olympic medals in their respective weight categories.
Expressing confidence, Chaimaa Aouissi highlighted the rigorous training regimen the team underwent to prepare for the Olympics: “The stakes are high at the Olympic Games, and we have trained intensively to reach our peak performance. Our goal is to represent Algeria with excellence and bring glory to our country.”
Coach Omar Kedjaouer shared his optimism about the team’s prospects, particularly for the women wrestlers making their Olympic debut: “This is a significant achievement for Algerian wrestling. We are hopeful that our athletes will perform exceptionally well and bring home medals.”
Meanwhile, the male wrestlers have embarked on a month-long training session in Hungary, while the women wrestlers have opted for Spain as their training base.
All eyes are on Bachir Sid Azzara, a standout athlete who narrowly missed a medal at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics. Azzara expressed determination amidst the pressure: “We are aiming to become Algeria’s first generation of Olympic wrestling medalists, and we are putting in the effort to achieve that goal.”
Despite Algeria’s long history of Olympic participation in wrestling, the country has yet to secure any medals in the sport across its 13 appearances. The athletes are eager to change that narrative and make a breakthrough in Paris.
