Technical Directorate

A technical directorate rooted in the federal school

The national technical directorate traces its origins to the return to Tunisia of master Mohamed Hachicha, after his studies in France. Appointed national technical director, he built up the federal school, which allowed many young Tunisians to practise judo free of charge. His own sporting achievements — victories in the heavyweight and open categories at the African Championships held in Tunis in 1968, followed live on Tunisian television — did much to popularise the discipline across the country.

Today’s national team preparation

The national technical directorate is today led by Béchir Khiari, who oversees the preparation of the national teams, notably through training camps held at the Centre international des stages in Aïn Draham.

A pathway that has carried Tunisian judo onto the world stage

The federal technical pathway has trained judoka who carried the Tunisian colours onto the international stage. Slim Agrebi and Hajer Tbessi represented Tunisia at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics, with Hajer Tbessi opening the way for a first generation of Tunisian Olympic judoka among women. Saida Dhahri competed at the Sydney (2000) and Athens (2004) Games. Anis Lounifi, a two-time African champion (2000 and 2002) and 6th dan, took part in the 2000 and 2004 Olympics. Iskander Hachicha, African middleweight champion in 2000 and African team champion in 1999, reached the continental podium several times between 1996 and 2004, before becoming secretary general of the Tunisian National Olympic Committee. Abdessalem Arous won silver, then bronze, at the African Championships in the 81 kg category, in 2000 and 2001. Houda Miled and Nihel Cheikh Rouhou reached the podium at the 2010 Grand Prix de Tunis, in front of their home crowd.

This pathway illustrates what the Federation’s technical coaching, from the Hachicha school to today’s training camps in Aïn Draham, sets out to instil: a training route that leads from the affiliated club all the way to continental and Olympic competition.

National teams

The line-ups and results of the national teams are published regularly in the Federation’s News section.