It has been a dismal performance from Cameroonian athletes taking part in the 5th Commonwealth youth games in Apia-Samoa.

After five days of competition, Cameroon has been able to grab only three medals, one gold and two bronze. The gold was obtained for Cameroon by Njoya Ahmed Valdi in weightlifting 77kg category while Eyenga Mbo’ossi Gaelle Jeanne and Djifack Ma’atemkem Zomgoua Rayssa won bronze in the +69 and 63 kg categories respectively.

The performance places Cameroon on the 16th position on the medal count tally sheet, out of the 62 participating countries.

According to the head of mission to the games, Victor Agbor-Nso, Cameroon is participating in the games with eight athletes namely; Engoulou Mimba Clement, Tatah Carine, Bekombo Dena Aime Valdono, Eyenga Mbo’ossi Gaelle, Djifack Ma’atemkem, Aboubarkar Siddiki and Njoya Ahmed Valdy.

Engoulou Clement emerged 18th in the 100m sprint and 21st in the 200m with a time record of 11.22”10. Tatah Carine missed the bronze medals by a hair’s breadth as she emerged 4th in the 3000m race with a time record of 10:37.92. In boxing, Bekonmbo Dena Aime Valdono was butted out at the quarter-final stage by knock out by Zambian born Emmanuel Ngoma.

Meanwhile, Australia is leading the medal count with 60 medals won so far; 23 gold, 18 silver and 19 gold. England is second with 44 medals; 12 gold, 16 silver and 16 bronze. South Africa occupies the third position with 34 medals; 12 gold, 7 silver and 15 bronze.

The competition which began on September 5th will end on September 15th. It is open to athletes below the age of 18 and brings together about a thousand athletes from 62 countries in ten different sports disciplines namely, archery, athletics, boxing, lawn tennis, rugby-sevens, lawn bowls, squash, swimming and weightlifting.