Joshua Amunga Mboya won the first medal for Kenya at the ongoing 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow today weightlifting.
The grit-filled performance by 20-year-old Amunga won the Men’s 60kg bronze medal at the SEC Armadillo, delivering a composed display to secure the medal with a combined total lift of 260kg (115kg in the snatch and 145kg in the clean and jerk).
His podium finish gave Kenya its opening medal of the Games, comfortably fending off Sri Lanka’s SDSS Wiriduwagle, who finished fourth at 244kg. Malaysia’s Mohamad Aniq Kasdan captured gold with a 273kg Games record total, while India’s Rishikanta Singh took silver.
“This is my first biggest medal, the first one I’ve got in the biggest competition,” Amunga said.
“I have never been this happy before. Pressure was high because when the slot times came out, it wasn’t the usual list of competitors we normally face. It was tough, but I stayed focused and gave myself motivation preparing for this competition.”
His manager Pius Ochieng lauded the youngster and tipped him for greatness in the sport. Amunga’s journey to the Commonwealth podium was far from seamless. The 20-year-old revealed he had been battling back from a severe injury sustained earlier in the year that threatened to derail his entire 2026 campaign.
Credit for his resilience, Amunga says, lies with his long-time mentor and coach who introduced him to the sport when he was just finishing primary school in Thika.
With Kenya’s medal tally officially opened, Amunga’s breakthrough performance sets a defiant tone for the rest of Team Kenya in Scotland.