Rabat – As part of Morocco’s participation in the 5th edition of the Islamic Solidarity Games, Moroccan athletes won a total of four medals, including a gold medal. The competition is taking place in Konya, Turkey, between August 9 and 18.
Moroccan athlete Abderrafia Bouassel claimed the gold medal in the 3,000 meter steeplechase, with a time of 9 minutes, 56 seconds, and 77 milliseconds.
Meanwhile, Moroccan Hafid Riski placed third in the 800 meter steeplechase, recording a time of one minute, 48 seconds, and 21 milliseconds.
Moroccan athlete Ikram Ouaaziz won the bronze medal in the 3,000 meter steeplechases with a time of 9 minutes, 57 seconds, and 18 milliseconds. Moroccan Sara El Hachimi also won a bronze medal in the 400 meter races, with a time of 54 seconds and 32 milliseconds.
Read also: Morocco’s Salaheddine Benyazide Wins 3000m Steeple Bronze
Proud of his victory, gold medalist Bouassel said that he dedicated his win to his friend and Moroccan Olympic champion Soufian El Bakkali, who he wished was present to witness his win.
Inaugurated by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, this year’s edition of the Islamic Solidarity Games will see the participation of more than 4,000 athletes from 56 Muslim countries.
The athletes will participate in 24 different sports and compete for a total of 335 medals, according to Turkish news outlet TRT.
Organized by the Islamic Solidarity Sports Federation (ISSF), the competition aims to “support the development of the athletes of the Islamic geography and to increase the culture of brotherhood and solidarity among the athletes,” indicated the same source.
First hosted by Saudi Arabia in 2005, the Islamic Solidarity games were postponed by a year due to COVID-19 restrictions.
