By: Mohamed Abu Conteh
Young Sierra Leonean weightlifter Francis Kondeh has secured his country’s first three medals at the ongoing 2025 African Junior and Youth Weightlifting Championships in Accra, Ghana.
Kondeh’s impressive performance at the Ga Mashie Hall, Trust Sports Emporium in Accra brought hope and smiles to Sierra Leoneans, as he defied the odds to win bronze medals in both the Junior and Youth categories.
In the highly competitive Youth 60kg weight class, Kondeh clinched bronze with a snatch of 85kg and a clean and jerk of 100kg. He also earned a bronze medal in the Junior 60kg weight class, marking a significant achievement for Sierra Leone on the continental weightlifting stage.
Reacting to Kondeh’s success, Sulaiman Kamara, the Technical Director who accompanied the lifters to Ghana, expressed immense pride in the achievement. “Despite the challenges and lack of government support, we must be proud to return home with medals,” Kamara said. He also praised the Sierra Leone Weightlifting Association President, Mohamed Ragga Bangura, who went above and beyond to ensure the Sierra Leone delegation could attend the competition.
The championships, which featured 82 young lifters (29 junior men, 24 junior women, 15 youth men, and 14 youth women) from across Africa, highlighted the best emerging talent in the sport. This year’s event saw athletes from over 20 African nations competing for top honors, with Kondeh’s medals adding to the growing recognition and development of weightlifting in Sierra Leone.
The African Junior and Youth Weightlifting Championships continue to serve as an important platform for discovering and nurturing the continent’s future champions. Ghana has once again proven to be a vibrant host for this regional sporting excellence.