Source: insidethegames.biz June 2021
NAIROBI- Algerian weightlifter, Walid Bidani, crowned African champion in Kenya, has been officially qualified for the Tkoyo Olympic Games, as he claimed 3 gold medals in the 109 kg division, according to the Algerian Weightlifting Federation.
Walid Bidani was one of three record-breakers at the African Weightlifting Championships in Nairobi, which finished this weekend.
The Algerian super-heavyweight, who will be a medal contender at the delayed Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, snatched 201 kilograms to set a continental record.
Bidani’s team mate Faris Touairi also set an African record with a snatch of 165kg at 89kg, and a third record-breaker of the week was Tojonirina Andriantsitohaina of Madagascar, with a 67kg total of 303kg.
Tunisia topped the overall medals table ahead of Nigeria and Algeria, while on points classification Algeria were the leading men’s team and Nigeria best of the women.
Karem Ben Hnia of Tunisia was rated top individual performer of the week on Robi points, for his 330kg total in the men’s 73kg.
The three record-breakers filled the three places behind him in the Robi points table.
After a surprise bomb-out in the clean and jerk by Nouha Landoulsi, one of Tunisia’s medal hopes in Tokyo, the top four individual women’s efforts were all by Nigerians.
None of them is in contention for a place at Tokyo 2020 and their top female lifter, Chika Joy Amalaha, is suspended for doping.
There was a big reward on offer in the men’s 96kg, in which Christian Amoah needed a good performance to overtake his team mate Forrester Osei in the Olympic rankings.
