Freetown: The Sierra Leone Volleyball Association announced Wednesday that one of its two athletes at the Under 21 Beach Volleyball World Championship in Switzerland has "gone missing".
In an exclusive interview with AFP in Freetown, the President of the Association, Christopher John, said, "the missing athlete, Aminata Turay, was in a delegation of four (two athletes, a coach and a team doctor) but the team was knocked out of the qualifiers after losing three pool matches".
He described Turay's disappearance as "shocking", adding that "this will definitely hurt the country's participation in upcoming international sporting events."
"We were expecting some good news of victory in the tournament, not news of being missing which is bound to spoil our image," he stressed.
"I have already contacted her parents and they are also shocked over the development," according to John.
A family source told AFP, "we had no indication that Aminata would not come back to Freetown."
"Actually, she was very enthusiastic about the trip, which was the first time she was participating in volleyball competition abroad."
Sierra Leone finished sixth in the final stage of the Olympic qualifiers.
AFP
