Cameroon's Bessala Awono Named The World Games Athlete of the Month

Cameroon's Combat SAMBO representative Joseph Bessala Awono has been named The World Games Athlete of the Month for June 2026, in recognition of his impressive performances on the international stage in recent months, headlined by his African Combat SAMBO title in the men's -79kg category.

The Athlete of the Month award is presented by The World Games in partnership with Tissot, recognising outstanding performances and achievements by athletes around the world.

The World Games reached out to the Cameroonian to learn more about the journey that led to this recognition – from his debut at TWG2025 in Chengdu in 2025 to his continental title win this summer.

A World Games debut and its lessons

Bessala Awono recalled that at TWG2025 in Chengdu, he made his debut among the world's elite, finishing fourth in both the Combat SAMBO -79kg event and the men's mixed team competition, narrowly missing out on a medal on both occasions.

“The competition brought together the eight best athletes in my weight category, and I was one of them,” he said. “I was convinced that I would finish on the podium, but I ended up just missing out. I was disappointed with my performance, but I came home determined to improve my technique and tactics for future fights.”

He believes the experience provided invaluable lessons about competing at the highest level.

“I learned that success at the highest level comes down to the smallest details. All elite athletes arrive well prepared; what makes the difference is each person's determination to win and how they manage the key moments during the fight.”

The road to the African title

The athlete already held silver and gold medals from the African SAMBO Championships, as well as bronze from the 2024 World SAMBO Championships. Following The World Games 2025, Bessala Awono once again set his sights on the 2025 World SAMBO Championships podium, but again fell just short.

“Despite everything, I kept my motivation,” he told The World Games. “I told myself that I simply needed to go back to work and correct my mistakes. I have only been practicing SAMBO for four years, so I still have a lot of work ahead of me to become even better.”

The result came this year, as Bessala Awono reached the top of the continental podium, convincingly claiming the African Combat SAMBO title. He said the achievement was the product of years of sacrifice.

“Winning my second African Combat SAMBO title represents the reward for all the hard work, the grueling training sessions, the defeats I have experienced, and the wise words of encouragement from my mother that kept me motivated. I approached these African Championships with great discipline and dedication. I told myself that I was going there to become champion, and through hard work and the grace of God, we achieved that goal.”

Looking ahead

Despite his rapid rise, Bessala Awono admitted to The World Games that he is still far from reaching his full potential.

“Together with my coaches, we are working hard on improving my technique and tactics so that I can become an even better athlete,” he said. “I believe I haven't yet reached even 30% of my full potential.”

Among the Cameroonian's immediate goals is the Combat SAMBO World Championship title, along with qualification for The World Games Karlsruhe 2029, where he hopes to return stronger and challenge for a place on the podium. Beyond SAMBO, he also revealed his dream of one day making the transition to mixed martial arts, drawing inspiration from legendary SAMBO practitioners such as Fedor Emelianenko, Islam Makhachev and Khabib Nurmagomedov.