IPNEWS: Liberia’s Grace Fahnbulleh now becomes FIRST Boxer to ever win a medal at the African Games.
In a historic moment for Liberian boxing, the nation’s only female boxer attending the 13th African Games, Grace Fahnbulleh, clinched the bronze medal in the women’s 50 kg category.
Fahnbulleh’s remarkable achievement earned her a place on the podium and etched her name in Liberian sports history as the first boxer, male or female, to medal in boxing at the African Games.
The journey to this groundbreaking accomplishment was one of determination. As Go Team Liberia (GTL) previously reported, in September 2023, Fahnbulleh lost her match at the Paris 2024 Boxing Africa Qualifier in Dakar, Senegal. The dedicated boxer told sports Journalist that she moved from Canada to Ireland, after the loss, to train and prepare for the African Games.
“I got a new coach and it’s a really good set up,” Fahnbulleh said. “Athletes live in the gym, so I was getting two sessions a day… which helped me prepare mentally and physically with no outside distractions.”
Fahnbulleh called the move a huge decision — and it’s one that has certainly paid off.
Her incredible journey from Liberia and to be faced with setbacks, self-doubt, fear and the passing away of her mother, did not stop Grace to move forward and to work towards her personal goals. Her deep faith in GOD, was helpful in her journey to not give up.
Fahnbulleh defeated Egyptian fighter Aly Habiba (4-3) in the quarterfinals to win the bronze medal for Liberia.
The LONESTAR “hope to represent Liberia at the Olympics and at international tournaments, to become a role model for young girls and women in Liberia and lastly introduce boxing to more girls and women in Liberia; which gives them the chance to step out of their comfort zone and learn the importance of discipline”.
Grace fans both at home and abroad extended congratulations and thanks to all the boxers who represented the LONESTAR, including Liberia’s Jeroson Barkin Garduward who fought in the men’s 60 kg matches, Timothy Williams for entering “the ring to represent Liberia in the men’s featherweight division and Freddy Kiwitt represented Liberia in the men’s 71 kg match against Egypt’s Omar Elsayed.