Sports News – Salone Scoops Wrestling Medal in Senegal

Concord Times (Freetown)

13 June 2011

Freetown — The Sierra Leone Wrestling Association has won its first ever medal in an international competition after one of its fighters, David Conteh finished third in the 84kg free style fight in the just concluded Wrestling Africa Championship in Dakar, Senegal.

Conteh’s success gave the discipline its first international honour after competing in several championships across the continent and in India.

The association’s president, Prince Swallay – who led the delegation to Dakar – said he was impressed with the performance of Conteh and the entire wrestling team throughout the competition.

“We are all happy for David Conteh because this is his first international competition and it is also the first time in the history of wrestling in Sierra Leone that we have a female wrestler representing the country internationally,” Swallay said.

He added Sierra Leone was ranked 8th position out of the 15 countries that participated in the competition, noting that it was an encouraging result for them.

According to Swallay, Sierra Lone was able to participate in four categories: 55kg with Bayoh Kamara representing the country and ranking seventh; Abdulai Rogers contested in the 66kg and finished in 11th place; while Alpha Bangura was also ranked 11th in the 74kg category.

Meanwhile, a delegation of four wrestlers last week departed Freetown for the 4th edition of the ECOWAS Traditional Wresting Tournament which commenced on Thursday 9th June in Dakar, the Senegalese capital, with 65 wrestlers from 13 of the 15 member states competing for honours.

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