Gambian judoka Faye Njie has won a bronze medal at the African Judo Championship in Cape Town, South Africa.
Twenty two athletes from 18 countries took part in the 73kg category.
Faye got off the championship on a high note, winning Bernhard Venter of South Africa in the first round in a fight that lasted 16 seconds. That would propel him to quarter finals against Acacio Quifucussa of Angola. The match was tight and went on an extra time and Faye got a score after two minutes.
However, the Finish-based Gambian judoka lost in the 73kg category to Algeria’s Fethi Nourinethe in a semi-final fight that lasted for two minutes, with the Algerian securing 10 points throw.
Njie was left with no option than to fight for bronze and was able to pin down another South African opponent Devan Stemmet in two minutes to clinch the third best prize.
“I feel really happy. It is always hard to win a medal at continental championships,” Faye tells The Chronicle shortly after his fight. “Of course, I feel a bit disappointed not winning the gold medal but that’s life. There will be more opportunities for it in the future.”
The continental event brought together 29 countries and 186 athletes. With less than a year away from the Tokyo 2020 Olympics Games, the event gave judokas the chance to accumulate maximum of points to go for olympic qualification.
