The Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games is close approaching with the Opening Ceremony taking place on Friday 23 July, so make sure to look out for the Algerian flag bearers!

There has been a long wait due to the global pandemic which saw the Tokyo 2020 Olympics postponed to 2021 (July 23 – August 8), but we finally get to see the Algerian athletes in action in the Japanese capital.

This year sees a contingent built up of 44 athletes representing Algeria in Tokyo, two less than the last outing in RIO 2016, where the national delegation had a total of 46 but this included the U23 football team which had a total of 18 players.

12 athletes form the first contingent and they represent six disciplines: Rowing, Judo, Table tennis, Fencing, Shooting, and Sailing.

Athletics, boxing and wrestling are the most represented with eight athletes each. Followed by fencing with four athletes, swimming (3), rowing (2), cycling (2), judo (2) and sailing (2).

(Pictured above) Taoufik Makhloufi, gold medallist at the London 2012 Olympics and double silver medallist at the Rio 2016 Olympics, will be the leader of the Algerian sports delegation.

The rest of the Algerian contingent is represented by one athlete in each respective discipline canoeing, weightlifting, karate, table tennis and sport shooting.

Boxer Mohamed Flissi and swimmer Amel Melih will be the flag bearers of the Algerian delegation during the opening ceremony.

The Algerian delegation will be looking to improve after they left Rio 2016 with just two silver medals, won by just one athlete, Makhloufi in both the men’s 800 and 1500 metres.

Make sure to follow DZ Sport on twitter and on our website to keep up with all the latest on Algeria at this summer’s Olympic Games.