Tokyo 2021: end clap for Abdelhafid Benchabla, Algerian boxer
Algeria's Abdelhafid Benchabla (in blue) defeated by Russian Muslim Gadzhimagomedov (in red).
AP - Frank Franklin II
Text by: David Kalfa Follow
3 min
Abdelhafid Benchabla was beaten in the round of 16 of the boxing tournament of the Olympic Games on July 27 by Russian Muslim Gadzhimagomedov.
For the 34-year-old Algerian, who also participated in the 2008, 2012 and 2016 Olympics, it is the end of the adventure in Tokyo 2021.
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From our special correspondent in Tokyo,
Abdelhafid Benchabla did not stop to speak.
To find out what is in his head and in his heart, we will have to wait.
As for his guts, we already knew.
The Algerian boxer has again proved his courage, this July 27 at the Olympic tournament of the Tokyo 2021 Games.
In the quarterfinals, the African pugilist faced Muslim Gadzhimagomedov.
A reference: the Russian is the reigning amateur world champion.
There was also a clear gap between him and Abdelhafid Benchabla, a knee on the ground and counted by the referee after a violent direct in the face.
Dominated, the native of Zemmouri tried to catch up during the last round.
In vain, he was so out of breath.
The judges gave Gadzhimagomedov the 5-0 winner.
Last Olympic Games?
A logical defeat but necessarily painful for Abdelhafid Benchabla.
Because, at 34, the Algerian was perhaps playing his last Olympic Games, he who had reached the quarter-finals of the 2008 Olympics in Beijing, the 2012 Olympics in London and the 2016 Olympics in Rio, among the light heavyweights.
Passed in the heavy for those of Tokyo, his Japanese adventure this time stopped in the round of 16.
The Algerian is however a reference in African boxing.
His career, largely started at the 2007 African Games in Algiers, was marked by gold medals at the 2011 African Games in Maputo, 2015 in Brazzaville, Rabat 2019, but also at the Mediterranean Games and the Championships in Africa.
Is this the end of the day for the Algerian flag bearer at the 2012 Olympics?
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