Kenya earns second medal at Africa Beach Games

• Wrestler Omumasaba beat South Africa’s Grobler
• He had played two matches and lost one to drop to second
• Handball girls won Kenya’s first medal

Kenya has clinched its second medal at the Africa Beach Games in Hammamet, Tunisia, after wrestler Mark Omumasaba won silver in the men’s 90kg category on Wednesday evening.

Omumasaba beat South Africa’s Machiel Johannes Grobler 3-0 in the silver medal match.

He was delighted to finally find a place on the podium having been in Tunisia last month during the African Championships and losing to the same opponent.

“I really feel delighted. I have grown in the game from my first bout in the morning. I was calmer when I approached this game and I am happy to have won my first ever medal in these games,” Omumasaba said after the match.

He added; “It was a really tough match because my opponent knew what he was doing and is a good wrestler. But I was pushed by my coaches and teammates to ensure I won a medal and I want to thank them.”

Coach delighted with performance 

Wrestler Omumasaba celebrates after winning

His coach Linus Masheti was also delighted with his wrestler’s performance.

“We are now looking forward to the World Championships in Bali, because he has qualified. We prepared well and we did a good job today to win this medal,” the tactician noted.

Leading by two points, Omumasaba thought he had lost the bout when Grobler seemingly scored a tush by landing the Kenyan shoulders down on his back.

As such, he would have scored three points and closed down the bout, but Omumasaba was encouraged by his coaching team to challenge the score on Video Review. Upon a second look, the referee upheld the Kenyan’s appeal and the tush cancelled, to turn back the bout.

Encouraged by the decision, the Kenyan pulled in all his energy, his shoulder tactic carrying him through as he managed to push the South African outside the circle.

Lost the penultimate match 

Wrestler Omumasaba in action

Omumasaba dropped to the silver medal match after losing to Senegalese Siny Sembene by a quick tush, the West African going on to win gold in the division.

He had been given a bye in the first round and in the second, edged out homeboy Sabri Mnasria 3-1.

Kenya’s first medal at the games was from the women’s handball team, which also won silver.

Meanwhile, the wrestlers will offer more hope for medal on the penultimate day of competition on Friday, with four more set to compete in the heavy and lightweight divisions.