General Secretary of the Ghana Athletics Association, Bawa Fuseini, reckons Team Ghana is in a better position to win medals at the upcoming African Athletics Championships in Asaba, Nigeria, than at any other time in recent history.
Ghana won six medals at the last championships in South Africa two years ago with Nadia Eke’s gold medal in the women’s Triple Jump the highlight of a moderately successful championship for Team Ghana.
The Ghana Athletics Association, for the first time, is presenting 8 “A” qualifiers for the championships along with arguably the country’s most promising female sprinter Hor Halutie.
Team Ghana will be banking their hopes on the women’s 4x100m women’s relay team who won a silver medal in the last edition two years ago.
The team will be led by Janet Amponsah who comes into the championships as National Record holder in the 200m with a time of 22.67sec.
In fact, the female contingent includes three national record holders with Akua Obeng-Akrofi, 400m (51.82sec NR) and Abigail Kwarteng, High Jump (1.87m, NR) the other two complementing Amponsah.
The men’s contingent will be led by Emmanuel Yeboah, whose impressive time of 10.19sec in the 100m this year has raised a few eyebrows to his potential.
Bawa believes the quality of athletes the country is presenting this time puts them in a great position to win more medals.
“This is the most high quality athletes we are sending to any championships in recent years. I think all of them are potential medalists” Bawa told Citi Sports.
“Abigail Kwarteng ranks number 2 in Africa; look at Agnes Abu in the 800m (2:00.77sec), her time ranks number 3 in Africa. Janet Amponsah is going into the competition with a national record.
“Emmanuel Yeboah is running times that Aziz Zakari and co used to run; incredible times
“So we are going to Asaba with athletes who are all within the medal zone. And we have done all we need to do for them. Now the ball is in their court to deliver,” Bawa concluded.
The 2018 Africa Athletics Championships will be hosted in Asaba, Nigeria from 1-5 August 2018.
Team Ghana (Provisional List)
WOMEN
Janet Amponsah (200m, 4x100m)
Hor Halutie (100m, 4x100m)
Persis William-Mensah (200m, 4x100m)
Agnes Abu (800m)
Akua Obeng Akrofi (400m, 4x100m)
Abigail Kwarteng (High Jump)
MEN
Emmanuel Yeboah (100m)
Atsu Nyamadi (Decathlon)
Joseph Paul Amoah (100m, 200m)
Stand-by list
Kate Agyemang (4×100)
Sarfo Ansah (4x100m)
Edwin Kwabla Gadayi (4x100m)
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Fentuo Tahiru/citinewsroom/Ghana
