The Moroccan senior judo team secured 11 medals (1 gold, 6 silver, and 4 bronze) on the final day of the African Open Judo Championship for juniors, youth, and seniors, held at the Mohamed V Sports Complex in Casablanca from January 16-19, Morocco’s Press Agency (MAP) reported.
Ahmed Alaoui Cherifi earned the sole gold medal in the under-66 kg category. Silver medals went to Abou Alfida Moubarak Boulaich (-66 kg), Hassan Doukkali (-73 kg), and Haytam Benyahia (-100 kg) in the men’s category, and Aziza Chakir (-48 kg), Soumiya Iraoui (-52 kg), and Fatima Zahra Chakir (-78 kg) in the women’s category.
Four bronze medals went to Nouh Lahmouri(-73 kg) and Amine Yassif (-81 kg) in the men’s category, and Nouhad Riadi (-48 kg) and Jihane Lahmate (-78 kg) in the women’s category.
The Moroccan senior team finished fourth overall. The title went to the UAE team which won three gold medals, Cameroon came in second with four medals (2 gold and 2 silver), and India followed next with three medals (2 gold and 1 silver).
The Moroccan junior team topped the medal table with a total of 29 medals (8 gold, 8 silver, and 13 bronze), ahead of Tunisia with four medals (2 gold, 1 silver, and 1 bronze) and Senegal with one gold and one silver.
Similarly, the Moroccan cadet team also finished first, earning 24 medals (6 gold, 12 silver, and 6 bronze), followed by Tunisia in second place (2 gold and 1 bronze) and Kuwait in third place with nine medals (1 gold, 2 silver, and 6 bronze).
Abdelouahed Chanet, Vice President of the Moroccan Judo and Associated Martial Arts Federation, told MAP that the African Open was an “excellent opportunity” for young Moroccan athletes to gain experience ahead of representing Morocco in official continental and international events, including in the next Olympic Games.
He added that Moroccan athletes excelled across all categories, “bringing pride to Morocco.” Chanet said that the competition reflected “exceptional sportsmanship, high-quality organization, and fair officiating, reinforcing Morocco’s leadership in hosting major continental and international events.”
Altogether 304 athletes (186 men and 118 women) representing 34 countries participated in this year’s African Open Judo Championship, held by the Royal Moroccan Judo and Associated Martial Arts Federation.