| Weightlifters are ready for the African Games in Accra. |
Madagascar will compete in eleven disciplines at the 13th edition of the African Games. As in 2019, the country totaled twelve medals including six gold and finished tenth in the ranking.
In eighteen days, the 13th edition of the African Games in Accra, capital of Ghana. It will run from March 8 to 23. Everyone is impatiently awaiting the release of the official list of athletes and members of the Malagasy delegation. The question that arises is to know what are our chances of medals in the eleven disciplines on which the Big Island is aligned compared to the 2019 edition Rabat in Morocco.
To reorganize the troops, the Minister of Youth and Sports, André Haja Resampa, spoke on Friday with the leaders of the sports federations involved in the African Games on Friday, in his office in Ambohijatovo. “The objective is to make Madagascar shine once again. Malagasy participation will not be symbolic. We go there to look for medals,” confides the minister (editor’s note).
Of the eleven disciplines, weightlifting tops the list of providers of gold medals for the Big Island. In the 49 kg category, three gold medals will easily fall into the hands of Rosina Randafiarison, African champion since the beginning of February and vice-world champion in 2023, if we stick to logic, but the sport is not an exact science.
Struggle to compete
Tojo Andriatsitohaina, who competes in the men’s 73kg category, also represents a great chance of a medal provided that he recovers from his physical problem due to a back problem. Elariont Ramiarimanana, two gold medals and one silver in 2019, is among the medalists, not to mention the capacity of the other weightlifters (whose names are eagerly awaited) capable of shining in Accra.
In 2019, 3×3 basketball won a gold medal. This year, the challenge is significant because new faces will join the two formations without the experienced Elly, Livio, Fiary and Arnol.
Judo, with the presence of Laura Rasoanaivo, will constitute a gold medal for the country because to go to the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, she is obliged to look good in Accra. Chess could make Madagascar shine during the Accra Games, because it is a sporting discipline in which Malagasy echophiles, like Fy Rakotomaharo (if he is present), Tsinjoniavo Aina Mahasambatra, can make the difference.
Table tennis has an advantage to put forward because the presence of Fabio Rakotoarimanana constitutes a great opportunity. Wrestling, athletics, karate, tennis have difficulty competing against African countries, but in sport everything is possible provided that preparations worthy of the name are undertaken. Sidonie Fiadanatsoa in the 100m hurdles has improved a lot recently and she could create a surprise. Finally, rugby sevens will be able to enter the top 5. With these small analyses, Madagascar will be able to do better than in 2019, by totaling more gold medals (weightlifting, judo, chess, wrestling) if all goes well.
1- Athletics
2- Basketball 3×3
3- Weightlifting
4- Fight
5- Karate
6- Tennis
7- Table tennis
8- Judo
9- Rugby at VII
10- Failures
11- Taekwondo
Donné Raherinjatovo