Bilal BENCHIKH: “I hope Algeria will get its World SAMBO Champion this year”

Algerian athlete Bilal Benchikh won a gold medal in the weight category over 88 kg in Beach SAMBO at the African Championships in Cairo (Egypt). He shared with the FIAS website his opinion on how the level of athletes has changed and when Algeria will receive its first World SAMBO Champion.

You have participated in the African SAMBO Championships many times. In your opinion, has anything changed during this time or the level of athletes and competitions has remained the same?

– Of course, the technical skill of athletes is growing year by year, and this is visible by the naked eye. I have already managed to win these competitions three times: in 2019, 2023 and now in 2024, and I can say that this medal was the most difficult for me. This happened both due to an increase in the number of athletes participating in Beach SAMBO competitions, and due to the improvement of their sports skills.

Which countries could you highlight? Where is the growth in technical proficiency most noticeable?

– I would single out Egypt, since my last bout for gold at the championship was with an Egyptian athlete. He had previously won fights with Moroccan, Tunisian and Cameroonian athletes. And he was very unyielding.

Perhaps this is due to the support of the stands, since he performed at home?

– Perhaps so, the audience really supported him, and it is possible that this allowed him to perform so well. But I knew who I was up against, and I planned to use the techniques that I know how to perform. Fortunately, I succeeded.

Taking into account the fact that you took only 5th place at the Sport SAMBO competition that took place the day before, and first place in the Beach SAMBO competition, will the upcoming World Beach SAMBO Championships in Morocco be your main priority?

– I think yes. I really manage to achieve good results in Beach SAMBO. Perhaps this is due to the fact that I live by the sea, and it is convenient for me to train on the sand. In any case, participation and victory at the World Beach SAMBO Championships in Casablanca (Morocco) is my priority and my main goal today.

A few years ago, Africa received its first World SAMBO Champion. It was the Cameroonian athlete Seidou Nji Mouluh. Then Cameroonian Maxwell Djantou Nana became another gold medal winner. When, in your opinion, will your country have its own World Champion?

– The professionalism of Algerian sambists is growing from year to year, so our country has a chance to win the main tournament of the FIAS calendar. I hope Algeria will get its champion this year. And perhaps this will happen in Morocco at the World Beach Championships. In any case, we will strive for this.