(TAP) - Tunisian taekwondoist Oussama Oueslati and fencer Ines Boubakri were crowned Tunisia's top athlete of the year 2016, while Esperance de Tunis striker Taha Yassine Khenissi was voted footballer of the year, following the annual poll organised by TAP news agency, involving more than 200 sports journalists and managers.
Oueslati scored 707 points, beating tennis player Malek Jaziri (682 points) and handball player Wael Jallouz (518). The fourth place went to Etoile du Sahel basketball player Makram Ben Romdhane (451), and the fifth to windsurfer Youssef Akrout (313).
Ines Boubakri, crowned best female athlete of the year for her performance at the last Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro (bronze medal in women's foil), collected 852 points, ahead of wrestler Marwa Amri, also bronze medalist at the 2016 Olympics (764 points) and shooter Olfa Cherni (450), author of a good race, in the same tournament.
The title of Best Footballer of the Year was won by Esperance striker Taha Yassine Khenissi (629 points), top scorer of the championship and winner of the Tunisian Cup with his team.
He was only seven points ahead of Hamza Lahmar (622 points) and his teammate Mohamed Amine Ben Amor (594 points).
Club Africain striker Sabeur Khelifa came in 4th place (360 points), in front of the left-back player of Al-Ahly of Egypt, Ali Maaloul (277 points).
Walid Ktila was voted best Paralympic athlete for his two gold and silver medals at the Paralympic Games in Rio-2016 (883 points).
As for the women's title, it went to Raouaa Tlili (830 points), for her excellent performances in the same tournament with 2 gold medals and a world record.
The poll open to the public on the TAP website (tap.info.tn) will continue until December 30, the date of the announcement of the results of the vote.
Best athlete of the year:
Men:
1. Oussama Oueslati (taekwondo) 707
2. Malek Jaziri (tennis) 682
3. Wael Jallouz (handball) 518
4. Makram Ben Romdhane (basketball) 451
5. Youssef Akrout (sailing) 313
Women:
1. Ines Boubakri (fencing) 852
2. Marwa Amri (wrestling) 764
3. Olfa Cherni (shooting) 450
4. Yosra Mhammedi (petanque) 405
5. Khedija Krimi (rowing) 317
Best football player:
1. Taha Yassine Khenissi (Espérance de Tunis) 629
2. Hamza Lahmar (Etoile du Sahel) 622
3. Mohamed Amine Ben Amor (Etoile du Sahel) 594
4. Sabeur Khelifa (Club Africain) 360
5. Ali Maaloul (Al Ahly) 277
Top Paralympic athlete:
Men:
1. Walid Ktila 883
2. Yassine Gharbi 595
3. Abbès Saidi 569
4. Bilel Aloui 430
5. Ismail Bouabid 324
Women:
1. Raouaa Tlili 830
2. Marwa Brahmi 718
3. Henia Aydi 476
4. Soumaya boussaidi 448
5. Samar Ben Kaalab 283