Algerian wrestler Ammar Ben Yakhlef offers silver

The Algerian Judo athlete Ammar Ben Yakhlef, who snatched Wednesday the silver medal in the Beijing Olympic Games, kindly replied to the queries of the newspaper Echorouk.

• Some people described your win as a big surprise, what are your comments about these assertions?
•  I started the competition fully prepared and I deeply felt that I could carry the day and wrench a medal as soon as I secured a berth in the semi – final.
• Aren’t you disappointed for not snatching the gold medal ?
•  Just a little bit, but I am still confident that the silver medal is also a swell achievement. I could have done quite better but fate finally chose my Georgian opponent.
•  We guess that a lot of people gave a helping hand to make you step on the podium in Beijing ?
• Of course, a lot of well meaning people in Beijing (the technical staff and fellow athletes) and in Algeria as well, helped me unsparingly in my preparation endeavour and extended great moral support which I duly appreciate.
•  To whom do you want to offer this silver medal ?
• I warmly offer this medal to all the Algerians wherever they may be. To my family and my friends as well as to all the residents of the municipalities of Bourouba and El Harrach without forgetting, of course, the newspaper Echorouk which has stood by me since the kick – off of the competition.