Kenya tops Junior standings as African Youth Weightlifting Championships end in Nairobi

Team Kenya during the Africa Youth and Junior Weightlifting Championship at Shashi Patel Memorial hall, Ruaraka Sports Club, Nairobi. [Jonah Onyango, Standard]

Kenya added six golds, six silvers and three bronze on the last day to top the junior category standings as the 13th edition of the African Youth and Junior Weightlifting Championships ended in Nairobi on Friday night.

Rachel Achieng (women's 76kg) and Mercy Kerubo ( women's 64kg) were on fire as they raked in three gold medals apiece to take Kenya's tally to 15 golds, 17 silver and 3 bronze on the final day.

Kerubo also added three silvers, same as to Trevor Kianga (men's 81kg) while Wellington Ojuang (men's 73kg) struck three bronze.

Kenya topped the Junior category charts on 537 points followed by Tunisia on 476 points as Egypt completed the podium on 420 points.

Tunisia commanded the Youth standings on 582 points followed by Kenya (327) while Seychelles (178) finished third.

Abdelraman Ahmed of Egypt (men's 73kg) was the only player in the tournament who smashed records.

In the Junior Clean and Jerk, Ahmed moved the bar from 171kg to a 174kg, setting a new junior world record.

In the Youth category, Ahmed stretched Snatch record from 120kg to 140kg, he also elevated Clean and Jerk from 151kg to 174kg. His feat also saw him elongate Youth Total record from 269kg to 314kg.

While savouring her three gold medals for Kenya, Achieng said:" I'm really happy with this victory. After failing to qualify for Paris Olympics, I went back to the drawing board and I'm happy that the results have started to trickle in."

Kerubo too was over the moon with her six medals thanking her tactician for the right strategy that netted the diadems.

"I feel inspired to work even more harder ahead of 2026 Dakar Youth Olympics. I feel I have the energy to conquer the Summer Games qualifiers," Kerubo told Standard Sports.

Former Kenyan international Winny Langat who is also the first female coach in the Kenya weightlifting industry, is also very happy that her student, Ian Okinyi, made her proud by bagging three golds and three silvers in the tournament on the opening day.

"Indeed, our target now is the Dakar Youth Olympics and from the performance we have recorded here we are assured to punch that ticket.

"We are going to work on squats for strength and furnish our clean and jerk lifts before we embark on the Dakar qualifiers," Langat hinted.

Kenya Amateur Weightlifting Association President Pius Ochieng and Secretary General John Ogola hailed the Kenyan charges for making the country proud in the championships reiterating that the way to go for the federation is to rope in young blood.

"Over the last two years, our focus has been on a recruitment drive and we now have a pool of young talents who are hungry for victory.

We gave some of them a chance in this competition and we are happy they delivered," Ochieng underlined.

The African youth showpiece held in Nairobi attracted nine countries including Egypt, Libya, Madagascar, Mauritius, South Africa, Seychelles, Tunisia and Uganda.

Kenyan medals; 15 golds, 17 silvers, 3 bronze

1.Men's 55kg: Ian Okinyi (3 golds, 3 silvers)

2.Men's 49kg: Acehood Waiyaki (3 golds, 2 silvers)

3.Men's 61kg: Joshua Amunga (3 golds)

4.Women's 49kg: Lina Omondi (6 silvers).

5.Women's 64kg: Mercy Kerubo (3 golds, 3 silvers)

6.Men's 73kg: Wellington Ojuang (3 bronze)

7.Women's 76kg: Rachel Achieng (3 golds)

8.Men's 81kg: Trevor Kianga (3 silvers)

Junior standings

1.Kenya 537 points

2.Tunisia 476

3.Egypt 420

4.Seychelles 240

5.South Africa 232

6.Madagascar 153

7.Mauritius 151

8.Libya 150

9.Uganda 135