Abdelhafid Benchabla was beaten in the round of 16 of the boxing tournament at the Olympic Games on July 27 by the Russian Muslim Gadzhimagomedov. For the 34-year-old Algerian, who also participated in the Olympics in 2008, 2012 and 2016, it is the end of the adventure in Tokyo 2021.
From our special correspondent in Tokyo,
Abdelhafid Benchabla did not stop talking. To find out what is in his head and in his heart, we have to wait a little longer. As for his gut, we already knew. The Algerian boxer has once again proven his courage, on July 27 at the Olympic tournament in Tokyo 2021.
In the quarterfinals, the African pugilist met the 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 straight in the face.
Dominated, the native of Zemmouri tried to catch up during the final round. In vain he was so out of breath. The referees gave Gadzhimagomedov the winner 5-0.
Latest Olympics?
A logical defeat but necessarily painful for Abdelhafid Benchabla. Since the Algerian in the 34th century may have played his last Olympics, he who had reached the quarterfinals at the 2008 Olympics in Beijing, the 2012 Olympics in London and the 2016 Olympics in Rio, among the light heavyweights. Passed in the difficult for Tokyo, his Japanese adventure stopped this time in the round of 16.
Algerian, however, is a reference in African boxing. His career, which 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 African Championships. Is this the end of the day for the Algerian flag bearer at the 2012 Olympics?
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