Celebrating the 2024 Campaign: May’s Triumphs and Unforgettable Moments

As part of our Celebrating 2024 Campaign, May was a month filled with remarkable achievements that showcased the continued excellence of African athletes across various sports. From the Diamond League to groundbreaking performances in the World Athletics Relays, May demonstrated Africa’s powerful presence on the global stage.

Let’s dive into May’s standout moments and celebrate the incredible successes of our athletes.

2024 ITTF Africa Cup: Champions Crowned

In May, the 2024 ITTF Africa Cup crowned two outstanding champions: Nigeria’s Quadri Aruna and Egypt’s Dina Meshref in the men’s and women’s singles, respectively.

Quadri Aruna delivered an unstoppable performance, sweeping past Egypt’s Mohamed El-Beiali with a commanding 4-0 (11-5, 11-6, 12-10, 11-3) win to secure the title. This victory marked a powerful comeback for Aruna, who last held the title in 2018 after losing to Egypt’s Omar Assar. His win reaffirmed his position as one of Africa’s top table tennis players.

In the women’s final, Dina Meshref showcased incredible resilience, coming back from a 2-0 deficit to defeat fellow Egyptian Mariam Alhodaby in a tense 4-3 match. Meshref’s victory was particularly sweet after losing the last two finals, cementing her legacy as Africa’s No. 1 table tennis player.

Photo:@ITTFAfrica

Diamond League & World Athletics Relays: Road to Paris 2024

The Diamond League series kicked off with great anticipation at the end of April, and May kept the momentum going with breathtaking performances on the track. Our dedicated blog provided fans with in-depth coverage, bringing them closer to the action than ever before.

In Doha on May 10th, Mary Moraa of Kenya secured a win in the 800 meters, showcasing her strategic brilliance.

In the 100-meter women’s sprint, Freweyni Hailu triumphed for Ethiopia, further establishing herself as one of the top sprinters.

The 5000-meter women’s race was dominated by Beatrice Chebet of Kenya, who set a new World Lead, highlighting her extraordinary endurance.

In the men’s 1500-meter race, Kenya’s Brian Komen claimed victory with an impressive display of speed and stamina.

Samuel Firewu of Ethiopia reigned supreme in the 3000-meter steeplechase, cementing his status as one of the world’s top steeplechasers.

The World Athletics Relays brought even more excitement in May, with Botswana’s relay team clinching a gold medal and securing their place at the Paris 2024 Olympics. Several other African athletes also booked their tickets to Paris, adding to the anticipation for the upcoming Olympic season.

Photo: @Worldathletics

Rugby Africa Women’s Cup 2024: South Africa’s Victory

At the Africa Women’s Cup in May, South Africa’s women’s rugby team asserted their dominance by defeating Madagascar and securing the tournament title. This victory earned the team a coveted spot at next year’s World Cup, marking a significant milestone in their rugby journey. In another exciting match, Kenya triumphed over Cameroon with a commanding 39-17 victory. These matches highlighted the rising competitiveness and talent within women’s rugby across Africa, promising a bright future for the sport on the continent.

Photo:@springbokrugby

Basketball Africa League: Petro de Luanda’s Historic Triumph!

In an electrifying climax to the Basketball Africa League (BAL), Petro de Luanda made history by defeating Libya’s Al Ahly Ly in a high-octane final, winning 107-94 at the BK Arena in Kigali on June 1st.

Trailing by eight points at halftime (42-50), the Angolan powerhouse unleashed an incredible third-quarter surge to snatch the lead and dominate the final stretch. With this monumental win, Petro de Luanda became the first team from sub-Saharan Africa to ever hoist the coveted BAL Championship trophy!

Although the final took place on the first day of June, we’re proudly celebrating this victory in May’s highlights, as the entire tournament unfolded throughout the month. Congratulations to Petro de Luanda for their trailblazing triumph—an achievement that will go down in African basketball history!

Giro d’Italia: African Cyclists Push Boundaries

African cyclists continued to make waves at the prestigious Giro d’Italia in May. Eritrean cyclist Henok Mulubrahn made a strong return, finishing in the Top 20 of Stage 2 after recovering from a collarbone injury. In Stage 3, Biniam Girmay achieved a remarkable Top 3 finish, but his promising run was cut short in Stage 4 due to a crash on a difficult descent, forcing him to withdraw from the race. Despite this setback, Girmay’s performance continued to showcase Africa’s growing strength in cycling.

Next Up: June’s Highlights in the Celebrating 2024 Campaign

May was packed with extraordinary performances and historic moments, but the journey doesn’t end here!

Download the Podium Pursuit app and stay connected for all the latest updates and live coverage. Stay tuned for next week’s article as we dive into the highlights from June, where even more thrilling victories and record-breaking performances await.

The Celebrating 2024 Campaign is all about shining a spotlight on Africa’s greatest athletes, and we can’t wait to share their stories with you!

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PROTOUCH AFRICA is a purpose-led and Sports Tech business founded in 2016 with a focus on enabling African Athletes to perform on the World Stage.

It is pioneering new ways for fans to interact and engage with their favourite teams, leagues, and athletes and enable alternative revenue streams.

ProTouch Africa’s Podium Pursuit Project is focused on creating a transparent and sustainable funding mechanism for the next generation of African Athletes. Its vision is to launch the World’s first fan-owned impact investment platform for African Athletes in 2024 by assembling an ecosystem of top-performing athletes, their fans, and the brands that support them.