1st All-Africa Youth Games-Seychelles team return |23 July 2010

Featherweight boxer Andrique Allisop, 17, won a silver medal after losing 8-10 to Moroccan Malek Said in the 57kg final.
Allisop had won on points – 15-3 – against Togolese Hounkpatin Jomlangam in one of the two semifinals.

The two bronze medals were won by swimmer Shane Mangroo in the pool of the Mohamed V Swimming Complex.

Reigning Young Male Athlete of the Year, Mangroo finished third in the 100m butterfly, stopping the clock at 1 minute 01.83 seconds (1:01.83) to improve his personal best time by 4 seconds, and in the 50m freestyle in a time of 25.38 seconds.

Mangroo, 17, also took part in the 200m freestyle (2:20.98 to finish fifth out of seven), 400m freestyle (4:46.05 to finish fifth out of seven), 100m backstroke (1:12.86 to finish fifth out of six), 50m butterfly (28.40 seconds to finish fourth out of 15) and 200m freestyle (56.36 seconds to finish sixth out of 17).

Swimmer Aurelie Fanchette swam the 200m individual medley (2:45.64 to finish fourth out of seven), 50m freestyle (30.46 seconds to finish eighth out of 22), 50m breaststroke (41.95 seconds to finish 11th out of 14), 100m backstroke (1:18.75 to finish sixth out of eight), 100m freestyle (1:06.86 to finish eighth out of 13), 50m butterfly (35.14 seconds to finish 10th out of 11), 400m freestyle (5:16.21 to finish fifth out of seven), 50m backstroke (37.08 to finish seventh out of nine) and 200m freestyle (2:28.76 to finish sixth out of seven).

In table tennis, Christy Bristol and Anil Nibourette progressed to the second round of the group stage of the women’s singles and men’s singles events before being eliminated. Bristol finished fifth out of 13 and Nibourette was ranked sixth out of 15.

In the mixed doubles, Nibourette and Bristol won 3-1 against Mauritius and Congo-Brazzaville and lost 1-3 to Egypt and Morocco in the group stage.

In the ranking games of the same event, they lost 1-3 to Benin and won 3-1 against Morocco to finish fifth out of 13 teams.
Judoka Carlos Labiche had no luck as he lost his first fight in the 55kg class.

In track & field athletics, Carlos Marianne clocked a personal best 22.85 seconds in the heat to make the final, where he was placed sixth with 22.97 seconds. He finished ahead of eight other sprinters.

Marianne did not take part in the 400m race which was held one hour before the scheduled time.

Sprinter Marie-Michelle Athanase did not make the final of the 200m race and was ranked ninth out of 14 with a personal best of 26.62 seconds.

Except for swimming, which took place in Casablanca, all the other sports were held in Rabat.
Coaches Giovanni Fanny (athletics), Jerry Legras (boxing), Francis Labrosse (judo), Barnsley Albert (swimming) and Jimmy Vel (table tennis) also formed part of the Seychelles delegation which was headed by Hebetty Alcindor of the Seychelles Olympic and Commonwealth Games Association.

Speaking at the closing ceremony of the Games, Moroccan Sports and Youth Minister Moncef Belkhayat said: "These Games took place in an atmosphere of peace, friendship and harmony."
He added that the continental event was an opportunity to stress the role of sports as a unifying, inspirational and liberating force.

The Games, held from July 13-18, brought together some 1,500 athletes from 41 countries who competed in several Olympic sports including football, basketball, table tennis, cycling, boxing, rowing, swimming, judo, weightlifting, taekwondo, fencing, shooting, athletics, wrestling, tennis and canoeing.

What they said:

Featherweight silver medallist Allisop:

“I gave my best throughout the bout. I should have been declared the winner because I overtook my opponent on points in the last round. But the final result wasn’t in favour. On the one hand, I’m a bit disappointed with the result, but on the other I’m happy with my performance.

“I’ll keep on boxing because I know I can achieve something great in the future and I’m happy with the help I’m receiving right now.”

Twice bronze medallist Mangroo:

“I feel good to win two bronze medals. I feel that Seychelles’ swimming is getting somewhere and I have to train harder to win more medals in the coming years.”

G. G.