Algeria is the only African nation to have achieved qualification places to the forthcoming London Olympic Games but first their athletes will look for success at the 12th Arab Games in Doha, Qatar with the target set at three gold medals.
Winner of the WSB Individual Championships and All African Games gold medallist Abdelhafid Benchebla as well as African Champion Mohamed Amine Oudahi both secured their Olympic quota places so will miss these Arab Games. With other Algerian boxers unable to participate due to other commitments, the issue of selection was quickly resolved.
Algerian Head Coach Azzedine Aggoune recruited a newcomer for the Light Flyweight category. After trying out youngsters Mohamed Flissi and Fahem Hammachi, Aggoune opted to give a chance to the promising Ahmed Meziane, whom the Federation have high hopes for.
Algeria's Flyweight No.2 Mohamed Bousmaha also needs to increase his international experience and has the technique required to do very well in Doha. Bousmaha secured a bronze medal at the Olympic Boxing Test Event in London where he narrowly lost to China's current Asian Champion Chang Yong.
One of the biggest Algerian prodigies is 18-year-old Arabic Championships bronze medallist Reda Benbaziz who also achieved silver at the All African Games in Maputo in September. Benbaziz will be fighting in the Bantamweight division and has all the tools in his arsenal to go all the way in Doha.
Brahim Oukil is the country's second highest ranked Lightweight, just behind Beijing Olympic Games quarter-finalist Abdelkader Chadi who will not be travelling with the squad. Another soldier in the team is tough African Championships silver medallist Barag Sid Ali, who many perceive to be the best Algerian Light Welterweight fighter.
All African Games quarter-finalist Zohir Kaddache will be competing in the Welterweight category while his friend veteran Saad Kaddous, who claimed an excellent silver medal at the All African Games in Maputo in September, will look to be crowned champion in the Middleweight division.
In the absence of Abdelhafid Benchebla, National Championships silver medallist Samir Meslouh have been selected to represent Algeria in the Light Heavyweight class in Doha whilst in the absence of Chouaib Bouloudinat National Championships silver medallist Abdellatif Sahnoune will be the nation's Heavyweight representative.
Algeria's top Super Heavyweight Kamel Rahmani have been involved with his national squad since 2002 and following some a spell of non-activity he returned to the team last year and won the gold medal at the All African Games in Maputo. He now will seek to continue his winning return by triumphing in the capital of Qatar.
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