The Namibia Wrestling Federation (NWF) senior development team, Onghoshi, along with many junior wrestler entries from Windhoek Wrestling Club and Roots Wrestling Club in Stampriet, delivered an outstanding performance, bringing home a total of 25 medals: 13 gold, nine silver and five bronze.

The wrestlers participated in the 2025 Johnnie Reitz Big 5 Open Championships in Pretoria, South Africa, the largest wrestling tournament in the Southern Hemisphere, which drew an astounding 1 008 entries this year.

They competed with a record number of 48 athletes and 17 coaches, officials, and team leaders. In a statement, Anke Erasmus, secretary general of the NWF, said the Namibian wrestlers stood out for their tenacity, preparation, and technical prowess, consistently outperforming expectations. 

“Their success is a testament not only to the athletes’ talent and resilience, but also to the exceptional efforts of the NWF coaching team, whose strategic guidance ensured every wrestler was competition-ready.

“A particularly heartening aspect of this success story was the strong representation of young, primary school wrestlers, mainly from Windhoek Wrestling Club and Roots Wrestling Club. 

These rising stars showed immense potential and maturity beyond their years, and the NWF looks forward to what their futures may hold.

“Participating in such a prestigious event and excelling on a platform of this magnitude is a major milestone for Namibian wrestling. It demonstrates that with commitment and vision, our athletes can compete with the best in the region and win,” concluded Erasmus.  

-lmupetami@nepc.com.na