Sondos Tarek and Sherif Nazier win African YOG Nanjing 2014 qualifier

After mixed weather in the Ivorian capital Abdijan, it was Sondos Tarek of Egypt who dominated the girls draw with her 3804 points qualifying her for the 2014 Youth Olympic Games next summer in Nanjing, China. In the men’s, it was compatriot Sherif Nazier who triumphed, to also book his place for the big show.

The competition started with the fencing and the Egyptian showed their superior skills with the epees as they took the first 4 places with Sherif Nazir the dominant force with 32 victories and 1168 points to his name after one discipline. Abdel Rahman Korany came second with 25 victories and 1000 points while Ahmed Hossam and Youssef Hassan both came in third with 24 victories and 976 points. 

In the swim Sherif Nazir extended his lead after recording an impressive time of 2:10.30 in the pool as Youssef Hassan of Egypt set the standard with 2:05.71 in the water to maintain his second place on the leaderboard. Diop Mamadou of Senegal was fourth. 

Nazir began the final event of the day, the combined, with a 35 seconds cushion over his nearest rival. Youssef Hassan demonstrated his precise shooting to catch up with the leader after the second series at the range. The 3rd series was amazing from Youssef, who got five in five, but unfortunately for him, in the final series he was pegged back and Nazir showed better speed on the final lap of the course to bring home the gold and in the process qualify for Nanjing.

He told us afterwards, ”I am so so happy with my results today, and finally my dream come true, it was a very long season for me, and I would like to thank everyone who helped me getting here today, my family, my coaches, Ehap Sambo, Mohamed Hossam, Mohamed Fouad, and the federation president for believing in me from the beginning.”

Youssef Hassan in the end had to settle for silver with Abdel Rahman Korany making it three Egyptians on the podium.

In the women’s even, it was again the Egyptian contingency that dominated with the North African nation taking the first four places in Abidjan. Nour Abbas began her campaign with 34 victories on the pistes while Haidy Adel came in second with 29 victories to notch up 1020 points. Nada Mohamed was third and Sondos Tarek was just behind her before the swim.

Mohamed Fouad, the Egyptian fencing coach said after the morning session, "I am satisfied with the results as some of the athletes really surpassed themselves to put themselves in a very good position.”

The swim saw Vermaas of South Africa go fastest as she clocked 2:23.70 in the 200m freestyle to move up to third overall behind Egyptian duo Nour Abbas and Haidy Ade.This meant Vermaas began the combined 22 secs behind the leader. 

The combined event was pure drama, completely unpredictable as they women kept changing position in a pulsating finale. Sondos Tarek somehow managed to climb her way up from fourth on the starting grid, to win the event and book her place for Nanjing 2014. Haidy Adel had looked on course to take gold but she struggled with her aim whilst Sondos Tarek was irresistible with her pistol.

An elated Tarek said at the finish line, "I would like to thank my coaches as they had a big role in my hard mission and their support really helped me achieve this amazing victory. My coaches Ehab Saied and Mohamed Hossam really made me progress with my shooting and that was a deciding factor. A special thanks to my mother who always stood by me and she was really the driving force in helping me reach the top in this sport".

Haidy Adel was second overall whilst Vermaas finished with bronze. The South African telling us, "I am so happy with my performance, it was my first ever pentathlon international event, and I hope for many more".