Olympic Dreams Burn Bright for Rio 2016 Hopefuls at Africa-Oceania Qualifier

ALGIERS (March 30) – When the curtain came down on the 2015 world championships last September, 35 national Olympic committees from Europe, Asia and the Americas held 106 berths for the upcoming Rio 2016 Olympic Games.

Only two of the 108 tickets assigned at the world championships went to wrestlers from Africa – All-African Games gold medalist Tarek Aziz BENAISSA (ALG), who finished in fifth place at 66kg in Greco-Roman, and world bronze medal winner at 53kg Odunayo ADEKUOROYE (NGR).

So, when wrestlers from Africa and Oceania gather at the Mohamed Boudiar Olympic Complex in Algiers this weekend, Olympic dreams will burn brightly in the minds of the entries seeking to snare one of the 36 continental berths for Rio 2016.

Of the 71 national Olympic committees represented on the mats at the London 2012 Games, 12 were from Africa along with four from Oceania, represented by a total of 39 wrestlers. Many of the wrestlers won their qualification to London 2012 at the regional tourney Morocco.

Egypt had the lion’s share of wrestlers from Africa and Oceania with 13, while 12 countries from the Mediterranean to the Pacific were represented by only one or two wrestlers.

Friday, April 1 – Greco-Roman All Categories

A pair of London 2012 Olympians – Zied AIT OUAGRAM (MAR) and Radhouane CHEBBI (TUN) – seek to join Benaissa in making a return appearance at Rio 2016 in Greco-Roman.

Ait Ouagram, the winner of eight African titles (2007-2015), appears to stand a head above the field at 75kg, but three-time Africa champion Chebbi has finished behind Mohamed Ahmed ABDELLATIF (EGY) at the most recent All-African Games and African championships at 130kg.

A likely addition to the mix at super heavyweight will be Florian TEMENGIL (PLW), who came up short in the qualifier for London 2012 but who has won double titles – freestyle and Greco-Roman – at the Oceania championships 2013 to 2015.

A potential battle royal looms at 66kg as All-African Games champion at 71kg Emmanuel NWORIE (NGR) is listed as an alternate at 66kg after finishing fourth at the African championships.

Meanwhile, Mohamed ELSAYED (EGY) finished ahead of Benaissa for the African title at 66kg in a five-wrestler Nordic (round-robin) competition.

Saturday, April 2 – Women’s Wrestling All Categories

At least six of the 12 female wrestlers from Africa and Oceania who competed in the London 2012 Games, are on the entry lists for this weekend’s qualifier.

Among these, Laure ALI ANNABEL (CMR) and Marwa AMRI (TUN) enjoy the rare distinction of already being two-time Olympians, seeking their third trip to the Olympic Games.

Ali Annabel, who owns five African championship crowns, won the All-African Games gold medal last September, but fell to Samar HAMZA (EGY) at 75kg in the continental meet in early March.

Eight-time Africa champion Amri, an eighth-place finisher in London, has been one of the top women’s wrestlers this Olympic cycle with top 10 finishes at each of the last three world championships at 55kg -- briefly holding the No.1 world ranking in 2014. 

Entered at 58kg, Amri will likely face the challenge of All-African Games champion Aminat ADENIYI (NGR), dropping in from 63kg where she won the African championships crown.

Blessing OBORUDUDU (NGR) and Hela RIABI (TUN) will make 63kg intriguing – with All-Africa Games champion Blessing challenged by 60kg AAG gold medalist Riabi. Add Oceania champion Tayla FORD (NZL), a ninth-place finisher in Las Vegas, to the mix along with Pacific runner-up Stevie KELLY (AUS).

Isabelle SAMBOU (SEN) has moved up from 48kg to 53kg, where she has been overshadowed by Adekuoroye. But, with the world bronze medalist on the sidelines, Sambou should be able to snare a second trip to the Games and a chance to improve on her fifth place in London.

Sunday, April 3 – Freestyle All Categories

Former world bronze medalist and two-time Olympian Sahit PRIZRENI (AUS) laces up the boots for Australia for only the second time after winning the Canada Cup last June.

Prizreni, 33, who wrestled at the Athens 2004 and Beijing 2008 Games for Albania, is entered at 65kg and will likely face Africa champion Daniel AMAS (NGR), who is making huge strides under coach and Sydney 2000 gold medalist Daniel IGALI (CAN).

Augusto MIDANA (GBS) will also seek a third trip to the Olympic Games after finishing seventh at London 2012 at 74kg.

A rising star at 20 at the Beijing 2008 Games, Adama DIATTA (SEN) has won seven titles as Africa’s premier bantam over the last decade and now seeks a trip to his second Olympics. Welson EBIKEWENIMO (NGR), African champion in 2014, will challenge at 57kg.
 
Slim TRABELSI (TUN), with three African continental titles along with the All-African Games gold medal, will be a favorite at 125kg despite a loss to Diaaeldin ABDELMOTTALEB (EGY) in early March.
 
Temengil, who opens the tourney in Greco-Roman, hopes to close the tourney with a triumph in freestyle at 125kg.

Schedule

Thursday, March 31
13:00-14:00 - Medical Examination: GR 59, 66, 75, 85, 98 & 130kg
14:15-14:45 – Weigh-in: GR 59, 66, 75, 85, 98 & 130kg

Friday, April 1
10:00-15:00 – Qualification Rounds & Repechage: GR 59, 66, 75, 85, 98 & 130kg
15:15-16:15 – Medical Examination: FW 48, 53, 58, 53, 69 & 75kg
16:30-17:00 – Weigh-in: FW 48, 53, 58, 53, 69 & 75kg
17:30-18:00 – Opening Ceremony
18:00-20:00 – Finals & Awards Ceremonies: GR 59, 66, 75, 85, 98 & 130kg

Saturday, April 2
10:00-15:00 – Qualification Rounds & Repechage: FW 48, 53, 58, 53, 69 & 75kg
16:00-17:00 – Medical Examination: FS 57, 65, 74, 86, 97 & 125kg
17:15-17:45 – Weigh-in: FS 57, 65, 74, 86, 97 & 125kg
18:00-20:00 - Finals & Awards Ceremonies: FW 48, 53, 58, 53, 69 & 75kg

Sunday, April 3
10:00-15:00 – Qualification Rounds & Repechage: FS 57, 65, 74, 86, 97 & 125kg
18:00-20:00 - Finals & Awards Ceremonies: FS 57, 65, 74, 86, 97 & 125kg