Veloso won his first two contests at the Junior Cup before losing to Cameroon’s Charles Ivan Guebogo Ntsoko in the semi-finals. He returned to the tatami to defeat Clément Yanis Keumoe Tchinda by ippon in the bronze medal contest, securing a first international podium for São Toméan judo.

Dos Santos also competed in the Junior Cup, winning his first two contests by ippon. He finished fifth after losing to Ralph Borel Tchouonze Tchouonze in the semi-final and to Gérémie Winston Fouda Mebenga in the contest for bronze.

At the Cadet Cup the next day, Dos Santos lost his opening contest but stayed in contention with an ippon victory over Cameroon’s Karl Kenzo Lorenzo Ngah Yowa in the repechage. That set up a rematch with Fouda Mebenga, who had beaten him for junior bronze the previous day. This time, Dos Santos won by ippon to claim cadet bronze.

For the Judo Global of São Tomé and Príncipe Association, the two medals mark a step forward in its work to develop judo at home and give its athletes opportunities to compete internationally. The association thanked the Olympic Committee of São Tomé and Príncipe, the International Judo Federation and the Cameroonian Judo Federation for supporting the delegation, as well as the coaches, training partners and families who helped the athletes reach the tatami in Yaoundé.