Namibia’s foremost young mixed martial arts fighter Veja Hinda on Saturday once again defied all odds to scoop a gold medal in the eight-man elimination round of the Gauteng Fighting Championships, which also saw him book a place in the semi-finals.

Today, the 25-year-old fighter will have another opportunity to extend his winning streak and hopefully reach the final slated, for the end of August this year. The Gauteng Fighting Championships are taking place in Pretoria, South Africa. 

Reflecting on Saturday’s performance, Hinda admitted that it was not an easy start for him, but he managed to perfectly execute his game plan and eventually reach the semis. 

“It was hostile; it is always hostile fighting in someone’s backyard. But it’s always a learning curve for me and my team. I needed this experience as I can’t get it back home in Namibia. I’m taking baby steps with all my fights… I’m again back on Thursday (today) for the semi-finals, so let’s see how it goes,” said an upbeat Hinda. 

This year, Hinda hogged international headlines when he clinched a gold medal in the featherweight category at the 2022 International Mixed Martial Arts Federation (IMMAF) Africa Championships in South Africa. That performance also saw him qualify for this year’s IMMAF World Championships in Abu Dhabi.

- ohembapu@nepc.com.na