Morocco Names Olympic Taekwondo Hopefuls for African Qualifiers

The technical committee, composed of the technical director, Philippe Bouëdo, and the national coach, David Sikot, finalized the list of selected Moroccan taekwondo athletes, including Oumaima Bouchti (-49 kg, 8th in the world) and Nada Laaraj (-57kg, 11th in the world) in the women’s category and Omar Lakhel (-58kg, 17th in the world) and Achraf Mahjoubi (−80 kg, 23rd in the world) in the men’s category.

As for Fatima-Zahra Abou Fares, gold medalist at the 2018 Youth Olympic Games in Buenos Aires, she has been exempted from this competition due to the injury she sustained in Argentina since she has not regained the level required for these Olympic qualifications.

Furthermore, efforts have been made by the Federation, in coordination with her coach, to rehabilitate her, in Morocco or in France, explains the same source. In this regard, a thorough examination of her health condition, carried out by the medical committee and the technical management, during the last concentration in France, revealed an inflammation that affected her at the level of the Achilles tendon.

The same press release also states that the Olympic champion, forced to rest, will only be ready to train beyond February 7th.