Mohamed CAMARA: "So Far, I Haven’t Reached The Necessary Level To Fight For The Highest Award"

An Ivorian Mohamed Camara won the silver medal in the under 57 kg weight category in sport SAMBO at his first African SAMBO Championships in Tunis. In his interview to the FIAS website, he told what result he was expecting to attain at the competitions, and what he lacked in order to win the gold of the continental championships.

- What does the silver medal at the African SAMBO Championships mean to you?

- Frankly, this was not the result which I aspired to. Yet I'm not upset since this is only my first participation in SAMBO competitions. I will draw all the necessary conclusions and move on – towards the gold medal.

- Is your success important for your country?

- Surely, it is! For my country, the silver in SAMBO is the first medal of such worth, so I do hope that it will be perceived at home as a success.

- Why did you become engaged in SAMBO?

- My primary sport is judo. But when I first saw the SAMBO competitions, I realized that SAMBO offers a greater variety of techniques, more versatile methods, and so I decided to try myself in this sport.

- What hindered you from winning in the finals?

- I think it was a certain shortfall in my level of technical mastery. Unfortunately, I hadn’t got an opportunity to prepare myself thoroughly for the tournament. So far, I haven’t reached the necessary level to fight for the highest award, so my opponent won deservedly. But I am sure that my main achievements still lie ahead!