Algerian boxer Imane Khelif is set to pursue Algeria’s first medal at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games this Saturday. She will compete against Hungary’s Anna Luca Hamori in the quarter-finals of the 66 kg category. Concurrently, cyclist Yacine Hamza will take part in the road race spanning 272.1 km.
Algerian fans will be intently watching the Paris Nord Arena, which is hosting the boxing events for the 2024 Olympics. Khelif’s quarter-final match is scheduled for 4:22 PM Algerian time this Saturday.
A victory by Tiaret native Khelif against Anna Luca Hamori would ensure Algeria a bronze medal before the semi-finals take place on Tuesday, August 6.
The 25-year-old Khelif advanced to the quarter-finals after a swift and decisive match on Thursday, leaving no chance for Italian boxer Angela Carini, who conceded just 46 seconds into the bout.
“My first Olympic fight ended quickly with a win against the Italian boxer. It’s always satisfying to start with a victory in such a significant competition, but I remain focused on my goal of an Olympic medal,” commented the Algerian boxing star after her round of 16 success.
In road cycling, Hamza Yacine will make his Olympic debut by competing in the road race, which is scheduled to start at 10:00 AM at the Trocadéro with 90 cyclists participating.
The race will commence with a 5-kilometer ceremonial tour passing through landmarks such as the Eiffel Tower, Les Invalides, and the banks of the Seine. The actual race will officially start on Rue Gay-Lussac in the 5th arrondissement. From there, the cyclists will leave the capital, traversing Hauts-de-Seine, Yvelines, and Essonne.
Subsequently, the riders will return to Paris, where they will face the iconic cobblestones of Montmartre hill (1 km at 6.5%), which could prove decisive. They will climb Montmartre three times up to the Sacré-Cœur before descending towards the Pont d’Iéna and finishing with a sprint back at the Trocadéro.
Hamza Yacine, the first Algerian qualified for these Paris Games, expressed his determination upon arriving at the Olympic Village. The 27-year-old stated that he is ready to tackle this challenging course, which will feature top contenders in the sport, including Dutch world champion Mathieu van der Poel, Belgian Wout van Aert, the 2024 Olympic time trial bronze medalist, and Eritrean Biniam Girmay, the breakout star of the latest Tour de France.
“This will be a tough race with the best in the discipline, but I am prepared to take on the challenge and give my best to honor Algerian cycling. My strategy is to stay at the front of the peloton and try to be part of a breakaway that could go all the way,” he said.
The eighth day of the 2024 Olympics will also see the participation of the national women’s sabre team, consisting of fencers Zohra Kehli, Kaouther Mohamed Belkebir, Saoussen Boudiaf, and Chaïma Benadouda. They will face France in the quarterfinals, scheduled from 12:00 PM at the Grand Palais.
Meanwhile, rower Sid Ali Boudina will compete in the C final (13th – 18th places) of the men’s single sculls, set for Saturday at 8:42 AM Algerian time at the Vaires-sur-Marne Nautical Stadium, aiming for an honorable placement after being eliminated in the quarterfinals of the main draw.
For its 15th participation in the Summer Games, Algeria is taking part in the Paris 2024 Olympics with a sports delegation comprising 46 athletes (27 men, 19 women) competing in 15 sports disciplines.
Source: APS
