Sierra Leone weightlifter Ishmael Kamara added to the Association’s International medal tally, winning bronze in the men’s 75kg category of the African Junior Men/Women and Youth Weightlifting and Arabia Senior Junior and Youth Championships in Mostaganem Algeria.
Kamara finished third with a total lift of 215 kg settling for third place as the only Sierra Leonean lifter in the competition.
The young lifter’s latest success came almost a year after his compatriot, Francis Kondeh won the country’s first-ever medals at the same African Junior and Youth Weightlifting Championships in Accra, Ghana. Kondeh earned bronze medals in both the Youth and Junior 60kg categories.
Coach and Technical Director Sallieu Kamara, who travelled with Kamara to Algeria, described the latest success as a proud moment for the country and another feather in the cap of the Association and the country.
“It was a great performance by Ishmael Kamara who made an improvement with his weights; we entered a total of 210 kg but he pulled off 215 kg in the competition which was a great display,” Coach Salman said.
Kamara also acknowledged the efforts of the Association’s President Mohamed Ragga Bangura, crediting him for ensuring Sierra Leone’s participation in the championships.
President of the Sierra Leone Weightlifting Association in his reaction to the medal success stated that his athletes continue to make the country proud and always bring home laurels at the international stage.
“Congratulations to Ishmael who has proved he can do it after he narrowly missed out on the podium last year. We will continue to stride and bring more medals to Mama Sierra Leone,” he said.
The African and Arab Weightlifting Championships already commenced on Wednesday in Mostaganem, Algeria, bringing together 340 weightlifters from 29 nations.
