Baffoe wins bronze in Rio qualifiers

By Edna A. Quansah, GNA
Accra, May 9, GNA - Ghana's sole female weightlifter Ruth Baffoe picked three bronze medals in the women 53kg category at the ongoing Africa Seniors Weightlifting qualification Championship in Yaoundé, Cameroun.

The competition serves as the qualifiers for the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio, Brazil.

The current national female record holder won the medals after lifting the 69kg snatch and 82kg clean and jerk.

She won a medal each in snatch, clean and jerk.
Although her result does not guarantee a spot in the Rio Games, the team is optimistic that Ghana will get a slot for the Games after the men's competition.

Speaking in an interview with her from their Yaoundé camp, the delighted athlete said she is glad to be returning home with a medal.

She said although it was her wish to get a chance to represent the country for the quadrennial Games, she will not give up and would concentrate on her career and make an impact next time.

Baffoe said that, her feat was due to inadequate preparation, and that, she has noted all her mistakes and will work on it in future competitions.

'I had little time to train and I know if I had preparations well, I would have won a gold medal,' she said.

Meanwhile, qualification for the Olympic Games will be based on team performances where the top five countries will represent the continent at the Games.

GNA