First medal for the African continent in the Tokyo Olympics. Taekwondoist Mohamed Khalil Jendoubi barely lost in the final of less than 58 kilos on Saturday against Italian Vito Dell’Aquila. He is a silver medalist, who had not happened to a Tunisian athlete at the Olympics in almost 50 years.
Mohamed Khalil Jendoubi goes down in history. At just under 19 years old, Tunisia is the Olympic vice-champion. Gold medalist at the 2019 African Games under 58 kilos, then at the African Championships in early June in Senegal at less than 58 kilos, the taekwondoist now has an Olympic medal. He adorned himself with money, Saturday, July 24, by winning his first three fights before losing narrowly in the final.
The only Tunisian representative in taekwondo in these Olympics in Tokyo started with a 25-18 victory over Russian Mikhail Artamonov (under neutral banner). He was then imperial in the quarterfinals against Ethiopian Solomon Demse (32-9). In the semifinals, Mohamed Khalil Jendoubi achieved a fantastic performance by beating the South Korean, the world’s foremost and reigning world champion Jang Jun (25-19).
In the final, the Tunisian faced the world number two, Italian Vito Dell’Aquila. This battle for gold has long been in his favor. By quickly hitting his opponent in the body and head, Jendoubi took the lead in the first round. The Italian reacted then but was still behind in the position. It was during the dying seconds of the third round that Tunisia broke and took several blows to the body, and Dell’Aquila took the lead and won with a short lead (16-12).
Mohamed Khalil Jendoubi did not hide his disappointment at the end of his fight, but his result is still exceptional. He is the first African athlete to medal at these games and also gives Tunisia its 14th Olympic medal in its history: 4 in gold, 3 in silver now and 7 in bronze. Tunisia’s last silver medal at the Olympics goes back to the one that athlete Mohammed Gammoudi won over 5000 meters during the 1972 edition.
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