Ghana to participate in four events at World Athletics Championship
The Ghana athletics team is expected to participate in three events at the 2011 World Championship in Athletics scheduled from 27 August to 4 September in Daegu, South Korea.
The events are Heptathlon, 100-metres, 4×100-metres relay and Long Jump.
Bawa Fuseini, General Secretary of the Ghana Athletics Association (GAA) told GNA Sports on Thursday that a seven-member team will fly high the colours of Ghana at the 13th edition of the biennial competition that pits together the finest athletes across the globe.
Margaret Simpson, the reigning queen of African Heptathlon will vie for honours in that event, veteran Aziz Zakari for the 100-metres and Ignatius Gaisah for the Long Jump.
Zakari who turns 35 on September 2, will team up with Timothy Kwasi Abeyie, Agyapong Ashhad, Agbeko Shepherd of the Ghana Armed Forces and Emmanuel Appiah Kubi of the Ghana Immigration Service for the 4X100 relay.
According to Fuseini, the relay team made the qualification mark during the rLG-sponsored Ghana Grand Prix held at the Baba Yara Stadium, Kumasi, a fortnight ago.
The General Secretary disclosed that some renowned athletes such as Vida Anim failed to make the qualifying mark, hence her absence from the team for the global championship.
Fuseini was optimistic that the athletes are capable of returning with medals judging by their performance at the Ghana Grand Prix.
The delegation is expected to leave for South Korea by the weekend ahead of the opening of the championship.
The delegation to be led Professor Francis Dodoo – President of the GAA includes Bawa Fuseini – General Secretary and Albert Nukpezah – Chief Coach.
Ghana’s best performance at the biennial championship was at the 2005 edition in Helsinki, Finland where Gaisah and Simpson bagged silver and bronze respectively in their individual events.
The duo, remain the only Ghanaian athletes to have won a medal at the championship since its inception in 1983.
Athletes from over 201 nations will battle for honours at the nine-day championship in Daegu, South Korea.
Source: GNA