South Africa celebrates first continental gold since 2014

South Africa’s Geronay Whitebooi delighted the home crowd by claiming the women’s U48 kilograms gold medal on the opening day of the African Senior Judo Championships in Cape Town. Whitebooi beat Algeria’s Hadjer Mecerem in the final at Cape Town University's Indoor Sports Hall. It was for the first time since 2014 South African won a continental title.

The bronze medals went to Tunisia’s Oumaima Bedioui and Mauritius’ Priscilla Morand.

Today’s two other female winners were Guinea-Bissau’s Taciana Cesar at U52kg and Tunisia’s Ghofran Khelifi at U57kg. Cesar defeated Morocco’s Soumiya Iraoui in her final, while Khelifi overcame Egypt’s Lamiaa Alzenan. Ivory Coast’s Salimata Fofana and Algeria’s Meriem Moussa were the U52kg bronze medallists.

Rounding off the U57kg podium were Algeria’s Yamina Halata and Angola’s Diassonema Mucungui.

There was also success for Tunisia in the men’s U60kg category, which saw Fraj Dhouibi beat Cameroon’s Bernadin Tsala Tsala in the final.

The bronze medals went to Algeria’s Salim Rabahi and Morocco’s Younes Saddiki.

Today’s one other gold medallist was Egypt’s Mohamed Abdelmawgoud in the men’s under-66kg division. He defeated Morocco’s Imad Bassou in the final.

Egypt’s Ahmed Abelrahman and Guinea-Bissau’s Diogo César were the bronze medallists.