NAMIBIAN wrestler Lisias Shithigona Shipopyeni finished fifth out of 12 competitors in the men’s 60 kg beach wrestling event at the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games in Senegal.
Shipopyeni, who represented the After School Centre Wrestling Club, competed at Saly Beach West, where he faced opponents from Venezuela, Côte d’Ivoire and Greece in the group stage.
He opened his campaign with a 0–3 defeat against Venezuela’s Wilfredo Grabiel Rodríguez González, who went on to win the gold medal.
Photos: ANOC TV Studio/Namibia National Olympic Committee
The 16-year-old bounced back in his second bout, securing a 4–0 victory over Côte d’Ivoire’s Namon Drissa Coulibaly.
His final group-stage bout against Greece’s Ioannis Kesidis was awarded to him by forfeit after his opponent failed to appear.
Shipopyeni finished second in Group B but did not qualify for the semi-finals. Only the three group winners and the highest-ranked runner-up advanced to the next round.
Despite missing out on the semi-finals, he secured fifth place overall in the competition.
Shipopyeni was also one of Namibia’s flagbearers during the opening ceremony of the Games, alongside swimmer Roselinda Angle Salome Matyayi.
Namibia is represented in Beach Volleyball, Boxing, Cycling, Triathlon, Swimming, Athletics in Men’s 200m and Beach Wrestling.
