Juliana Anyango Ongonga, a promising weightlifter from Kenya, secured the country’s second medal at the African Games held in Accra, Ghana, by earning a bronze in the women’s 81kg division on Thursday evening.
With a total lift of 165 points, the athlete from Kitengela claimed third place, trailing Egypt’s gold medalist Sara Samir Elsayed, who scored 240 points, and Jean Gaelle of Cameroon, who took silver with 209 points. Anyango’s performance included a 73-point lift in the snatch and 92 points in the clean and jerk.
Her achievement mirrors that of Kenya’s Esther Kavesa, who earlier won bronze in the women’s 45kg category with a score of 115 points, following gold medalist Ramadan Abdelwahab of Egypt with 127 points and Algerian Nadia Katbi, who earned silver with 123 points.
In the men’s competition, Joshua Amunga finished in fifth place in the 61kg category with 206 points, while Frankline Omondi ranked seventh in the 73kg category with a combined lift of 231 points. The Kenyan weightlifters’ performances have been a testament to their dedication and skill in the sport.
