“I am making my father’s dream come true”: the emotion of the French boxer Billal Bennama, due to the end of the Games

2024-08-04 13:02:43

Billal Bennama dreams of fighting on the Philippe Chatrier court, at Roland-Garros, where all the finals of the Olympic tournament will be played starting this Tuesday. The Toulouse boxer will see his wish granted next Wednesday, after qualifying on Sunday afternoon for the 51 kg final and beating the Dominican Yunior Alcantara Reyes.

“I, who follow the Roland-Garros (tennis) tournament a lot, will be there as a boxer in the Olympic final, the best tournament, the biggest,” the French boxer was happy, all smiles after the fight. Above all, it represents years of work, with ups and downs, disappointments… In Tokyo, I was not able to show my boxing. There, I started to play sports a little,” said the Toulouse midfielder, who was marked by an injury in each, the deepest on the right side.

Billal Bennama (left) during his Olympic semi-final against Dominican Yunior Alcantara Reyes. 2024 Sports logo

“These are the risks… He throws a lot of headbutts,” said Billal Bennama, about Yunior Alcantara Reyes, who got the better of him in the first round. “Bill went a little late. It bothers him but he is told to stay calm, let his opponent make mistakes and to counter attack. Which he did in the second round and continued in the third. It’s a smart win,” said Malik Bouziane, coach of the men’s boxing team, while Billal won the second and third rounds unanimously by the judges.

“My father gave me everything”

“Focus makes a difference, I think. I’m not angry, I stay focused and I use my strategy,” added the flyweight, who is now determined to go all the way. “To show that I’m not here for nothing. I will give everything, with the spirit of a warrior,” promised the vice-captain and European champion, who rejoiced at the end, confirming his victory.

For everyone too, who are happy again for the Toulouse boxer: “I want to thank him by giving him happiness. » For his father, finally, the first coach and former Algerian national, who missed the Los Angeles Games in 1984 after being injured. “He gave me a lot since I was young, he is the one who planted sin in me. You told me you had dreamed of competing in the Games, I am making your dream come true,” said Billal with emotion.

And the French boxing team, which has already held its beginning and is now starting to dream of gold, after the two great victories this Sunday morning, Sofiane Oumiha having imitated Billal Bennama in these fights. “We are going to play two big finals, I am very happy. At the beginning, we aimed for two medals, then three or four for France. We already have three, so we have already completed our contract, but we hope that Davina Michel will bring us the fourth on Sunday afternoon,” added Malik Bouziane, who also did not hide his joy at joining Roland-Garros.