Tesano Dolphins grab medals at international swimming championship

Accra, July 01, GNA – Tesano Dolphins Swimming Club grabbed a total of 20 medals at the 41st International Swim-fest in Arnsberg- Neheim, German to place 15 out of 45 Clubs that participated in the competition last month.

The Dolphins also came fourth in eight events with youngster Abeiku Jackson grabbing seven gold medals in the 50m back stroke, 50m free style, 50m fly, 100m back stroke 100m fly and 200m fly and 200m free and silver in the 200m free events.

The participants from 45 Club with two from Africa, Ikoyi Club of Nigeria and Dolphins of Ghana included other Clubs from Germany, Holland, England and France among others from Europe.

Jackson Abbiw, Team Manager of the Dolphins Swimming team of the Tesano Sports Club in his report at the out-dooring of the medals won by the team in Accra on Saturday said that the team's achievements were due to the discipline and dedication to training that the young boys and girls were taken through.

He said that the competition saw a large number of 4,207 swim entries but with 761 swimmers and the Tesano Dolphins entering 72 out which 14 girls and four boys participated to make the country proud.

Abbiw explained that the swimmers were seeded and swum according to their entry times and categorized into ages with the best time for any age group winning gold ranging from nine years to 17 years.

The Team Manager said the mission of the Tesano Dolphins are to raise a team that will offer good competition, produce best swimmers to be the best choice to form the national Swimming team, facilitate sports scholarships for the swimmers and produce swimmers who can qualify to represent Ghana at the next Olympic Games and other feats.

Mr Theophilus Wilson Edzie, President of the Ghana Swimming Association said swimming, as a mass and total sport has the potential to win more medals for the country if the youth are giving the right training and support to enable them perfect their performance to meet international standards.

He said the Association in collaboration with the National Sports Authority are putting in place measures to get an Olympic size swimming pool for the training needs of swimmers to make capable of competing with other swimmers in international feats.

Mr Wilson Edzie also said other avenues such as the hotels, are been planned for the use of their pools to train the youth in the rudiments of swimming.

Dr Ohene Karikari, Director of Sports at the National Sports Authority advised the young swimmer to be disciplined and continue to train for more laurels and urged corporate bodies to support the Tesano Dolphins in their quest to develop the sport in the country.

The other award winners included Nefissath Radji - 50m Free, Eyram Shabashie - 50m free, 50m fly, 50m back, Kwesi Abbiw Jackson - 50m back, 50m free, Chelsea Degraft Ackun - 50m fly, Kow Jackson – 50m, 100m breast, Kelly Shooter – 50m breast and 200m breast with Abeiku Jackson winning the Best Swimmer award for the Tesano Dolphins .

GNA