Moroccan Petanque Star Vanishes in Belgium, Abandons National Team

His name is Hicham Boulassal. And just writing his name in a search engine reveals dozens of pages praising him. Phrases like "it is a very young Moroccan champion Hicham Boulassal who at the age of 16 takes first place with a performance of 50 points (He is the 2017 junior world shooting champion)", written by Boulistenaute on the occasion of the World Precision Shooting Championship. Or like the title of the media Journaldequebec: "a 16-year-old teenager outclasses the world elite of petanque".

But... He took French leave, during a trip to Belgium where he was supposed to participate in a major international petanque competition. No trace of him in the hotel, his luggage disappeared, his phone turned off, and Alyaoum24 titles its article on the subject: "Lhrig returns again to Moroccan sport. The star of the national petanque team hreg in Belgium".

To know that if things remain in the current state, Boulassal will not be able to participate in the petanque world championships, to be held next May in Almeria, Spain.