2024-07-07 14:51:13
These Moroccan athletes aim to win an Olympic medal like other disciplines such as athletics and boxing, after having taken part in the Olympic Games in Sydney 2000, Athens 2004, Beijing 2008, London 2012 and Rio de Janeiro 2016.
And if national taekwondo has managed to establish itself among many pioneering countries, thanks to the results obtained by young Moroccans in various international and continental competitions, it has become natural that the next Olympic Games constitute an objective to restore the reputation of the discipline after the setbacks of previous editions.
To achieve this objective, the National Technical Directorate is counting on the trio, Omaima Bouchti (-49 kg), Nada Laâraj (-57 kg), and Achraf Mahboubi (-80 kg), who have acquired extensive experience and obtained encouraging results in numerous international tournaments.
The coronavirus pandemic in various regions of the world has caused the postponement or cancellation of many sporting events, including qualifying tournaments for the Tokyo Olympics, except for taekwondo, whose qualifiers took place in Rabat and saw the qualification of three Moroccans in this discipline, indicated in this sense the coach of the national team, the French David Sicot.
This point was positive for the Moroccan team, because several teams from different continents, particularly in Europe and Asia, have not yet been able to play the qualifiers and they still do not know when these competitions will be played, Mr. Sicot stressed in a statement to MAP, following a training session at Al Akhawayn University in Ifrane.
The validation of the Olympic qualification ticket allowed the Royal Moroccan Taekwondo Federation and the National Technical Directorate to prepare a preparatory training program in Ifrane following the cancellation of training courses in France, Norway and England, which were scheduled until April 15 and the one scheduled in Japan, recalled Mr. Sicot.
The national coach explained that although Moroccan taekwondo athletes had to train at home for a long time during the lockdown period, these exercises remain insufficient for high-level athletes. “However, the three qualified are in the prime of life and can remedy this problem,” reassured Mr. Sicot.
The competition in Tokyo will be tough for the Moroccans, given the circumstances they have been through, said the coach, stressing the need to set up an intensive preparatory program that includes numerous training courses and participation in international tournaments to cross swords with international taekwondo practitioners.
He also said that the training course carried out by the national elements in Ifrane is subject to strict control to avoid any health problems among the taekwondoists, noting that all members of the national team, including players, coaches and administrative staff, are required to carry out Covid-19 screening tests so that the training course can take place in safe conditions.
For his part, the president of the Royal Moroccan Taekwondo Federation, Driss Hilali, indicated that the Moroccan team began preparatory training very early in Ifrane under the supervision of the Moroccan National Olympic Committee and the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports, with the aim of ensuring good preparation after the postponement of the Tokyo Olympics.
“Qualifying for the Tokyo Olympics was not easy, although the eliminations took place in Morocco,” said Mr. Hilali, considering that it is no longer possible to talk about weak and strong teams, because all the teams are preparing with the same pace.
The president of the federal body said he was satisfied with the results obtained by Moroccan athletes in the African qualifications after three taekwondo athletes were able to obtain the precious sesame for the Olympic Games as well as three others in the para-taekwondo category.
After having validated their tickets for Tokyo, the objective of the representatives of the Kingdom in taekwondo, through these preparation courses, is to compete with the big teams in the conquest of medals and ride on the successes achieved in the various continental and international tournaments.
2024-07-07 14:51:13