The Algerian para-powerlifting team, consisting of seven athletes including two females and one junior, will participate in the World Championships of the sport in Dubai (United Arab Emirates) from August 22 to 30, as reported by the National Technical Directorate (DTN) of the Algerian Handisport Federation (FAH) on Tuesday.
This event, which is expected to attract a record participation of 160 para-powerlifters from 79 countries, holds particular significance as it will feature world and Paralympic champions in the discipline competing for spots at the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games.
“We aim for the best possible results in this highly important event for all participants. Our athletes are determined to rise to the challenge, and we have chances to secure some qualification spots. Algerian para-powerlifting is gaining recognition on the global stage, and our team is growing with the inclusion of other athletes who need support to improve their performances. They are the future of this discipline in Algeria,” said the national coach, Mohamed Salah Benatta.
The selection for the Dubai world championships was based on the most accomplished athletes: Hocine Bettir (65kg), Hadj Ali Mohamed (88kg), Beyor Hadj Ahmed (49kg), Khodja Aymen (59kg), Samira Guerioua (45kg), Nacera Merar (79kg), and junior athlete Chams Eddine Boudraa (49kg).
“These are athletes in whom we have high hopes. We have prepared for this championship together, an important tournament that no athlete wants to miss. Each of them has the potential not only to participate but also to achieve strong lifts, maintaining their focus from start to finish,” explained Benatta.
He further added, “They will participate in this competition without undue pressure, for which they have prepared well. Now on-site, they need to conserve their efforts, stay focused on their goals for making the trip, and maintain a concentrated mindset during the competition.”
Regarding injuries, which are a major concern in strength sports, the coach expressed contentment as the athletes are in good health, aside from minor issues that require proper care.
Hocine Bettir, the captain of the Algerian para-powerlifting team and a bronze medalist in the Tokyo 2021 Paralympic Games, emphasized that the upcoming championship in Dubai will be challenging. As the last qualifying world championship for the Paris 2024 Paralympics, the stakes are high. He noted, “I believe that the Dubai World Championships will be the toughest, as they are the final qualifiers for Paris 2024. We are already in the competition and focused on our goal, for which we have worked diligently under the guidance of our staff. Such effort deserves strong performances and a qualification for the grand Paris event, which is the dream for all of us.”
Bettir, currently ranked 3rd in the world, is among the prominent athletes set to compete in Dubai, alongside figures like the iconic Egyptian Osman Sherif (59kg), Tokyo 2020 Jordanian champion Omar Qarada (49kg), and UAE legend Mohammed Khamis Khalaf, a double Paralympic champion who will compete in the men’s 97kg category.
The Algerian delegation, which concluded a pre-competition training camp lasting over a week on Monday, is set to depart for the UAE capital on Tuesday afternoon. On-site, training sessions are scheduled for Algerian athletes, alongside participants from other nations. A technical meeting for different coaching staffs to devise the competition program will be held a day prior to the tournament’s start on August 22 for juniors and from August 23 for seniors (men and women).