Paralympic Champ Bouamer Eyes LA 2028 at World Championships

When Paralympic champion Abdelkader Bouamer steps onto the mat in Tbilisi, Georgia this week, he's not just defending his legacy. He's building a new one in a heavier weight class.

Algeria's three-athlete para-judo team is competing at the World Championships from September 20 to 26, with one goal in mind: earn the ranking points needed to qualify for the 2028 Los Angeles Paralympic Games. The Algerian Sports Federation for the Disabled announced the roster includes Bouamer, Youcef Redjai, and Abderrahmane Chetouane, all competing in the J1 classification for visually impaired athletes.

Bouamer brings serious credentials to this challenge. He won gold in the 60 kg category at the Paris 2024 Paralympics and claimed silver at the Astana World Cup in May 2025.

Now he's moving up to the 70 kg division, testing himself against the world's best in a new weight class. It's a bold choice that shows his commitment to pushing his limits rather than resting on past victories.

His teammates are hungry to prove themselves too. Redjai missed the 2024 Paralympic Games but bounced back with a bronze medal at the Tbilisi World Cup in March 2025. Chetouane, competing as a heavyweight in the 95 kg division, earned bronze at the Giza Grand Prix in Egypt last August.

Why This Inspires

These athletes embody what it means to play the long game. Rather than being discouraged by missing past opportunities or celebrating past wins and stopping there, they're focused on what comes next.

The World Championships give them a chance to measure themselves against elite competitors while building the points and experience they need for Los Angeles 2028. Each match, win or lose, teaches them something valuable about their craft.

Their journey reminds us that the path to greatness isn't a straight line. Sometimes it means moving up a weight class, sometimes it means coming back from disappointment, and always it means showing up ready to compete.

Three athletes, three weight divisions, one shared dream of representing Algeria on the Paralympic stage in Los Angeles.