The Ghana Arm wrestling Federation (GAF) will embark on a series of events geared at presenting a formidable national team for the country at the impending Africa Games 2023 to be hosted in Ghana.
This follows the inclusion of the sport among selected events for the Africa multi-sport competition that will bring the world’s attention to Ghana.
Speaking to the Times Sports yesterday, the President of GAF, Mr. Charles OseiAsibey described the breakthrough as heart-warming, adding that, “this is a reward for hard work and dedication.”
Sharing the GAF’s plans towards hosting a successful championship, Mr. Asibey said the immediate agenda was to put in place measures to ensure they are represented by the very best athletes to enhance Ghana’s medal haul at the games scheduled for August.
“This will kick start a recruitment process for the development of coaches and referees. It will enable Ghana position itself for the expected opposition from continental giants like South Africa, Egypt and Mali.”
That will lead to the recruitment of pullers from Junior and Senior High Schools as well as the Tertiary to join the Golden Arms for intensive training.
According to Mr. Asibey, they will compete in the 2022 Africa Arm-wrestling Championships and the World Championships and other invitational events in preparation for the Africa Games.
Mr Asibey thanked the Ministry of Youth and Sports (MoYS), National Sports Authority (NSA), the board of the Local Organizing Committee (LOC) of Accra 2023, Mr. Kofi Addo-Agyekum, the Armwrestling Board, the Pullers, Coaches Partners and the Media for the supports GAF has enjoyed in achieving the feat.
Arm wrestling was admitted for the 13th Africa Games as a competitive sport after a remarkable feat by Arm wrestling during the First Joint Technical Meeting between the LOC, the Technical Committee of the Games and the Africa Union Sports Council in Accra attended by Heads of Continental Sports Federations.
It met the criteria set for the games which included but not limited to the popularity and participation, facility and equipment, technical officials, qualification criteria etc.
Led by Mr Asibey, World Arm wrestling General Secretary-Mircea Simionescu-Simicel, Eng. Samuel Jackson, Nasr Yussif, Husseini Akuetteh Addy all of the Africa Arm wrestling Federation joined the pitching team to justify why their discipline should be included in the Pan-African Games.
BY TIMES SPORTS REPORTER
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