Ghana is back on the World Taekwondo podium as Heavyweight fighter Amed Sama has clinched a historic bronze medal at the 2026 Swiss Open in St. Gallen, Switzerland, becoming the first Ghanaian to win a World Taekwondo G1-ranked medal since 2019.
Sama delivered a gritty performance in the men’s over-74kg division on Sunday, September 6, at the Athletik Zentrum St. Gallen to finish third in a stacked field that featured Olympic hopefuls and European champions.
The tournament, sanctioned by World Taekwondo and organised by Swiss Taekwondo, is one of Europe’s most competitive opens, with 862 athletes registered across cadet, junior, senior and Para divisions this year.
For Ghana, the stakes were higher than just ranking points. The country has struggled for international recognition in taekwondo in recent years, with funding challenges and limited exposure hampering progress.
Sama’s campaign changed that narrative in emphatic fashion. Drawn in the heavyweight bracket that ran from -54kg to +87kg for seniors, he battled through two tough elimination rounds before narrowly missing the final.
The bronze secures him crucial G1 ranking points on the road to the World Championships and the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic qualifiers.
What makes his feat more remarkable is the tournament’s new brutal format. This year’s Swiss Open introduced the “Swiss Challenge” – a second-chance single-elimination bracket for first-round losers – meaning athletes had to stay mentally sharp for longer hours and more fights than ever before.
Sama, however, needed no second chance. He won his opening contests to book a direct route to the semi-finals.
Officials of the Ghana Taekwondo Federation who followed the competition from Accra described his performance as a statement of intent for Ghanaian combat sports.
“He has proven that Ghanaian taekwondo has what it takes to compete at the highest level when given the right support,” a federation source told this portal after his medal was confirmed.
The athlete had departed Kotoka International Airport days earlier to acclimatize in Switzerland, with supporters and federation members present to see him off.
Now, the heavyweight is set for a hero’s return. Sama is expected to touch down at Kotoka International Airport on Monday, September 7, at approximately 7:30 a.m. aboard an ITA Airways flight from Europe.
His arrival is expected to be met by officials from the National Sports Authority, the Ghana Olympic Committee and members of the taekwondo fraternity.
Beyond the medal, Sama’s bronze is being seen as a major morale boost for the next generation of Ghanaian fighters who have been crying for international exposure.
For years, Ghana has produced talented fighters in local gyms in Accra, Kumasi and Tamale, but lack of G1 opportunities has kept them invisible on the world rankings.
With this podium finish, Sama has not only put his name on the world ranking table but has also put Ghana back on the map of world taekwondo powerhouses to watch.
Attention now turns to how the Ministry of Sports and Recreation will build on this momentum and support his qualification journey to LA 2028.
