Rodriguez, Myers and Velazco Reach the Podium in Tunisia

(Colorado Springs, CO) – Team USA won three senior medals as well as a junior gold in Tunisia over the weekend.

2024 Tunis African Open and Cup Results

Dominic Rodriguez (Lehigh Acres, FL / NYAC / Ki-Itsu-Sai National Training Center) and Melissa Myers (Burnt Hills, NY / Jason Morris Judo Center) each won gold in the senior events at the Tunis African Open in the 81 kg and 70 kg divisions, respectively.

Fighting in the first tournament since injuries took him out of competition last summer, 19-year-old Rodriguez moved up from the 73 kg category in which he won the 2022 Senior Pan American Championships to 81 kg.

Rodriguez came in unseeded, but won his first two matches by ippon (instant win) over Youcef Nouari (ALG) and 2022 Senior African Championships silver medalist Wajdi Hajji (TUN). In the quarter-finals, Rodriguez defeated Achour Denni (ALG) by a pair of waza-aris (half point each) and secured his position on the podium when he threw Ahmed El Meziati (MAR) for a waza-ari and pinned him for ippon. In the finals, Rodriguez threw Ahmed Rebahi (ALG) first for a waza-ari and then for ippon.

A 2023 Senior Pan Am Team member, Myers won her second career Continental Open title, adding gold in Tunis to her 2022 Dakar African Open title in the 70 kg division.

Myers won the opening match on penalties in a match that went more than three minutes into Golden Score (sudden death overtime) before Myers defeated Maram Jmour (TUN), three penalties to two. In the semifinals, Myers and Ugne Pileckaite (LTU) were tied at two penalties each in Golden Score when Myers threw the Lithuanian for a waza-ari just over a minute into overtime.

In the finals, Myers threw four-time Senior African Championships medalist Sofia Belattar (MAR) for a waza-ari to take gold.

Eighteen-year-old Christopher Velazco (Coral Springs, FL / NYAC / Ki-Itsu-Sai National Training Center) came away from Tunisia with a silver in the senior event at the African Open and a gold in the junior African Cup competition.

Fighting in the senior event on Saturday, Velazco won his first two matches by ippon, defeating Dias Ashimov (KAZ) and Ben Barkby (GBR) to advance to the semifinals where he threw four-time Senior African Champion Fraj Dhouibi (TUN) for a waza-ari in the final minute.

In the final, Velazco was caught with a choke by Daniyar Yessengulov (KAZ).

Team USA’s sole competitor in the junior event on Thursday, Velazco won his first junior continental cup title outside of the Pan American region, taking gold in the 60 kg division.

The 2022 Senior National Champion and three-time Cadet Pan American champion finished 3-0 on the day. After a bye into the quarter-final, Velazco defeated Mounir Benyahia (ALG) by a pair of waza-aris and went on to secure a place in the final when he defeated Houssem Harabi (TUN) by a waza-ari in the semifinal.

Velazco took his final match down to the wire before throwing Abdulrahman Alsaiari (KSA) for a waza-ari in the final 10 seconds to take gold.

Top eight and U.S. results are as follows:

Senior Men’s 60 kg
1. Daniyar Yessengulov (KAZ)
2. Christopher Velazco (Coral Springs, FL / NYAC / Ki-Itsu-Sai National Training Center)
3. Billel Yagoubi (ALG)
3. Fraj Dhouibi (TUN)
5. Ben Barkby (GBR)
5. Aymen Denni (ALG)
7. Houssem Harabi (TUN)
7. Rabah Hallel (ALG)

Senior Women’s 48 kg
1. Oumaima Bedioui (TUN)
2. Ka Lee Wong (HKG)
3. Houaria Kaddour (ALG)
3. Aziza Chakir (MAR)
5. Katryna Esposito (MLT)
5. Anne Suzuki (San Jose, CA / San Jose State Judo)
7. Hana Missaoui (TUN)
7. Amira Ben Ayed (TUN)         

Also Competed: Kaycie Tanimoto (Fort Worth, TX / Chandler Judo Academy), 0-1

Men’s 66 kg
1. Nurmukhamet Botabay (KAZ)
2. Konrad Shoka (AIN)
3. Artyom Shturbabin (UZB)
3. Aziz Harbi (TUN)
5. Juan Postigos (PER)
5. Ammar Adouane (ALG)
7. Fakhreddine Khelfaoui (ALG)
7. Shugen Nakano (PHI)

Senior Women’s 52 kg
1. Faiza Aissahine (ALG)
2. Chaimae Eddinari (MAR)
3. Rahma Tibi (TUN)
3. Tatum Keen (GBR)     
5. Hajar Chanet (MAR)
5. Djamila Silva (CPV)
7. Jenna Schurr (Torrance, CA)
7. Rania Nait Ammar (ALG)

Senior Men’s 73 kg
1. Ethan Nairne (GBR)
2. Ruslan Halavachou (AIN)
3. Wail Ezzine (ALG)
3. Yerzhanat Uali (KAZ)
5. Kestutis Vitkauskas (LTU)
5. Aibek Zhakashov (KAZ)
7. Aleddine Ben Chalbi (TUN)
7. Inno Loeber (NED)

Senior Women’s 57 kg
1. Chaima Sidaoui (TUN)
2. Zouleiha Abzetta Dabonne (CIV)
3. Marwa Chakmkhi (TUN)
3. Mariem Jmour (TUN)   
5. Zina Bouakache (ALG)
5. Hadeel Elalmi (JOR)
7. Noran Elmahroukey (New Providence, NJ / NYAC / Colton Brown Training Center)
7. Leana Nelson (Coventry, RI / Top Game Martial Arts)

Senior Men’s 81 kg
1. Dominic Rodriguez (Lehigh Acres, FL / NYAC / Ki-Itsu-Sai National Training Center)
2. Ahmed Rebahi (ALG)
3. Valentin Houinato (BEN)
3. Kwok Wing Lee (HKG)
5. Ahmed El Meziati (MAR)
5. Achour Denni (ALG)
7. Ishak Benzina (ALG)

Also Competed: Ramon Hernandez Jr. (Pompton Lakes, NJ / North Jersey Judo), 0-1

Senior Women’s 63 kg    
1. Yana Makretskaya (AIN)
2. Doubnia Slimani (MAR)
3. Carolina Delgado Frances (CPV)
3. Ons Romdhani (TUN)
5. Amina Rezoug Douniazed (ALG)
5. Skye Knoester (RSA)
7. Chaimae Taibi (MAR)
7. Beriem Ben Hsin (TUN)

Senior Men’s 90 kg
1. Axel Heeren (NED)
2. Oussman Kabri (ALG)
3. Lokmane Daroul (ALG)
3. Aliaksandr Sidoryk (AIN)
5. Ulan Altayev (KAZ)
5. Abdelaziz Ben Ammar (TUN)
7. Jaad Belgaid (MAR)
7. Yassine Kouraichi (TUN)  

Senior Women’s 70 kg
1. Melissa Myers (Burnt Hills, NY / Jason Morris Judo Center)
2. Sofia Belattar (MAR)
3. Maram Jmour (TUN)
3. Ugne Pileckaite (LTU)
5. Wided Rajhid (TUN)
5. Sarah Soukane (ALG)

Senior Men’s 100 kg
1. Redha Lamri (ALG)
2. Florenty Gaudy (FRA)
3. Islame Bouyemout (ALG)
3. Koffi Kreme Kobena (CIV)
5. Amine Lahmadi (TUN)
5. Isaac Bezzina (MLT)
7. Toufik Abdou (ALG)
7. Walid Boukhriss (MAR)      

Senior Women’s 78 kg
1. Coralie Godbout (CAN)
2. Arij Akkab (TUN)
3. Louiza Ichallal (ALG)

Senior Men’s +100 kg
1. Lili Mohamed El Mehdi (ALG)
2. Yahor Kukharenka (AIN)
3. Anouar Abdelkader Hichem Hached (ALG)
3. Wahib Hdiouech (TUN)
5. Sherkhan Alpanov (KAZ)
5. Mohamed Ben Zid (TUN)
7. Saud Manaie (KSA)

Senior Women’s +78 kg
1. Sarra Mzougui (TUN)
2. Carmen Dijkstra (NED)
3. Kinga Wolszczak (POL)
3. Zeineb Troudi (TUN)
5. Justina Kmieliauskaite (LTU)
5. Yousra Mechebbek (ALG)

Junior Men’s 60 kg
3. Ishak Denni (ALG)
3. Ahmed Alaoui Cherifi (MAR)
5. Houssem Harabi (TUN)
5. Mounir Benyahia (ALG)
7. Anis Saoudi (ALG)
7. Raoul Brillant Nganji (BDI)

Junior Women’s 48 kg
3. Nohade Riadi (MAR)
3. Suet You Tang (HKG)
5. Islem Ammar (TUN)
5. Aya Derardja (ALG)

Junior Men’s 66 kg
3. Darkhan Kairullauly (KAZ)
3. Anes Abou B Mecheta (ALG)
5. Ibrahim Deghnouche (FRA)
5. Yasser Kachkach (ALG)
7. Abdulaziz Alsaadi (KSA)
7. Ayoub Benlaribi (ALG)

Junior Women’s 52 kg
3. Yasmine Hadi (ALG)

Junior Men’s 73 kg
3. Aibek Zhakashov (KAZ)
3. Raslen Adel Trabelsi (TUN)
5. Abdelmoumen Nazim Haouam (ALG)
5. Ibrahim Hlaili (TUN)
7. Abdulmalik Maimani (KSA)
7. Ousir Mokhtari (FRA)

Junior Women’s 57 kg
3. Hala Zerrouk (ALG)
3. Marwa Chamkhi (TUN)
5. Amira Trabelsi (TUN)
5. Bouchra Bach Sais (ALG)

Junior Men’s 81 kg
3. Mohamed Amin Hanafi (TUN)
3. Aineddine Djellili (ALG)
5. Houssine Ben Mehrez (TUN)
5. Abdelmalek Matali (ALG)

Junior Women’s 63 kg
1. Oceane Gastaldi (FRA)
3. Lina Chaibi (ALG)
5. Millie Bayliss (GBR)
5. Nour El Faqri (MAR)
7. Aya Guizeni (TUN)
7. Alaa Fessi (TUN)

Junior Men’s 90 kg
3. Ulan ALtayev (KAZ)
3. Keziah Harvent (FRA)
5. Sid Ali Benaboura (ALG)
5. Akzhol Duisenbayev (KAZ)
7. Youcef Djaouadi (ALG)
7. Khalil Mchichi Guzannai (TUN)

Junior Women’s 70 kg
3. Hayet Ayed (TUN)
3. Lydia Kechout (ALG)
5. Nassma Essatouri (MAR)
5. Wided Rajhid (TUN)

Junior Men’s 100 kg
3. Mohamed Hamza Khettou (ALG)
3. Denis Maksimov (LTU)
5. Arystan Ulsaitov (KAZ)
5. Ali Rjeb (TUN)

Junior Women’s 78 kg
1. Arij Akkab (TUN)
2. Sarah Hansal (ALG)

Junior Men’s +100 kg
3. Mohamed El Mahdi Mashael (ALG)
5. Sami Ramdani (FRA)
7. Mohamed Amokrane Sebki (ALG)
7. Zakariae Aziani (MAR)

Junior Women’s +78 kg
1. Wala Cherni (TUN)
3. Loubna Smati (ALG)
5. Cherifa Sabbagh (TUN)
5. Lina Benfedda (ALG)  

Cadet Men’s 50 kg
1. Saud Alfaifi (KSA)
2. Mohammed Mehdi (ALG)
3. Larbi Addad (ALG)
3. Zakaria Hannache (ALG)
5. Ayoub Bouchareb (TUN)
5. Natas Aleksiejunas (LTU)
7. Raed Zaabaoui (TUN)
7. Heidi Hadji (TUN)

Cadet Women’s 40 kg
1. Roudjaina Zemouli (ALG)
2. Yousra Bennour (TUN)

Cadet Men’s 55 kg
1Aniss Ijioui (MAR)
2. Rokas Makulavicius (LTU)
3. Mohamed Billel Benkhamou (ALG)
3. Mohamed Amine Degouah (ALG)
5. Adam Akif (ALG)
5. Mohamed Fettache (ALG)
7. Majdi Amri (TUN)
7. Rayen Laadhar (TUN)    

Cadet Women’s 44 kg
1. Emna Khalfaoui (TUN)
2. Romissa Abbes (ALG)
3. Amani Msallmi (TUN)
3. Ayat Amrane (ALG)
5. Ines Madaci (ALG)
5. Maram Tibi (TUN)

Cadet Men’s 60 kg
1. Salah Eddine Moudetere (ALG)
2. Youcef Harfouchi (ALG)
3. Ilias Ijioui (MAR)
3. Abdallah Abdelilah Rebahi (ALG)
5. Abdallah Sahbeni (TUN)
5. Moomen Bellah Abed (TUN)
7. Omar Bouhali (TUN)
7. Abderrahmane Lambarraa (MAR)

Cadet Women’s 48 kg
1. Manel Mekhelef (ALG)
2. Narjess Haddeji (TUN)   

Cadet Men’s 52 kg
1. Oussama Abdelhak Hezil (ALG)
2. Nacereddine Ensaad (ALG)
3. Mohamed Letaief (TUN)
3. Zygimantas Karalevicius (LTU)
5. Saud Alzahrani (KSA)
5. Samir Ouacher (ALG)
7. Wing Yat Yeung (HKG)
7. Amine Bitrou (MAR)

Cadet Women’s 52 kg
1. Maram Dhib (TUN)
2. Amina Alsoui Cherifi (MAR)
3. Tasnim Jomli (TUN)
3. Assia Belbachir (ALG)
5. Fausteja Gvazdauskaite (LTU)
5. Ilef Haddad (TUN)

Cadet Men’s 73 kg
1. Amanallah Harroum (TUN)
2. Chiheb Sahbeni (TUN)
3. Abdelhak Fidjel (ALG)  
3. Saleh Albeladi (KSA)
5. Mohammed Aymen El Khalil (ALG)
5. Abderrahmene Aoulad Amer (ALG)

Cadet Women’s 57 kg
1. Asma Farhat (TUN)
2. Hanane Brahimi (ALG)
3. Ranim Ben Sliman (TUN)
3. Yosr Be Nasr (TUN)
5. Israa Ben Salem (TUN)
5. Deimante Deslauskaite (LTU)

Cadet Men’s 81 kg
1. Abdellah Tamime Haimouda (ALG)
2. Aberrahmane Bouguerri (ALG)
3. Khatoui Ben Rejab (TUN)      
3. Fahad Alhawsah (KSA)
5. Ayman El Ouard (MAR)
5. Mohamed Rayen Salhi (TUN)

Cadet Women’s 63 kg
1. Rahma Guerfaoui (ALG)
2. Iva Bogdanovska (MKD)
3. Yasmine Cheikhrouhou (TUN)
3. Viktorija Ragauskaite (LTU)
5. Amina Abboucha (MAR)
5. Islam Ghadhab (TUN)
7. Abir Bouazzaoui (MAR)
7. Lamis Meriem Atba Benatba (ALG)

Cadet Men’s 90 kg
1. Aymen Benatia (ALG)
2. Rayen Chaanbi (TUN)
3. Mohammed Salah Haimeur (ALG)
3. Mohammed Shaikh Mubark (KSA)
5. Adem Landolsi (TUN)
5. Mohamed Abderraouf Feradji (ALG)

Cadet Women’s 70 kg
1. Dounia Adda (ALG)
2. Yasmine Hariss (MAR)
3. Malak Lakhal (MAR)
3. Aya Hamdi (TUN)
5. Achwak Ben Othmen (TUN)
5. Razane Bousbaa (ALG)

Cadet Men’s +90 kg
1. Salim Hannous (ALG)
2. Houssem Ben Zina (TUN)
3. Chems Eddine Cherifi (ALG)
3. Youssef Ben Hassen (TUN)
5. Iyed Issaoui (TUN)
5. Mohamed Taher Baccar (TUN)

Cadet Women’s +70 kg
1. Lina Benfedda (ALG)
2. Jihane Rahma El Mansouri (MAR)
3. Maram Namouchi (TUN)
4. Nour Islem Bouzid Saadaoui (TUN)