The Sierra Leone national senior mixed Tug of War team is gearing up to showcase their strength and skill at the prestigious Tug of War World Championship in Nottingham, United Kingdom.

Gavin Corden, International Representative for the Tug of War Association (England) to the Tug of War International Federation, confirmed that Sierra Leone has received an official invitation to compete in the championship, hosted by the English Tug of War Association.

The tournament is scheduled to take place from Wednesday, 4th September, to Sunday, 7th September 2025, with teams arriving on Tuesday, 2nd September, and departing on Monday, 8th September. The championship will be held at the University of Nottingham, University Park, Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, while participating teams will be accommodated in the university’s student halls of residence.

The four-day competition will take place at the University of Nottingham’s Highfields Sports Complex. As part of the partnership, competitors will be housed at the main University Campus, with family, friends and support teams having access to special rates at The Orchard and The Jubilee hotels, as well as being able to enjoy the Bramleys and Spokes Café at the respective venues and events at the East Midlands Conference Centre.

Head coach Sonny Johnson revealed that Sierra Leone will compete in the senior 4-by-4 mixed 580 kg category. The team is currently in rigorous training, practicing four times a week—Saturdays at Aberdeen Beach, and Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays at the Peacekeeping Force Gym in Bombay.

“Our goal is to make a mark at the Tug of War World Championship and put Sierra Leone firmly on the global sporting map,” Coach Johnson said, expressing the team’s determination and high hopes for the competition.

With months of dedicated training behind them, the Sierra Leone Tug of War team is ready to pull their way to international recognition, carrying the nation’s pride with every tug.

Tug of War represents a concept so classic that in many cultures its name is used in everyday language. Tug of war’s long history as the purest contest of human strength provides glorious moments. In the Olympics from Paris 1900 through Antwerp 1920, in The World Games from 1981, and in Tug of War International Federation World Championships held outdoors and indoors … When the referee commands “Pick up the rope!” – “Take the strain!” – “Steady!” – “Pull!” adrenalin pushes eight athletes on each side to muster every ounce of strength in their bodies!