Weightlifting Association eyes Africa and World Championships

Accra, March 31, - The Ghana Weightlifting Association (GWA) is seeking to join the continental and world greats in the sport by competing in the Africa and the World Championships slated for Morocco and the Dominican Republic later in the year. The decision of the Association follows the impressive performance of the lifters in two international events, the All Africa Games in Abuja, Nigeria and the just ended Commonwealth Games held in Melbourne, Australia. The lifters won three medals at the All Africa Games and crowned it with a gold medal at the Commonwealth Games. Mr Cliff Johnson Aboagye, Chairman of the Association told the GNA Sports in an interview that his outfit will soon write to the Ministry of Education and Sports through the National Sports Council (NSC) on their preparations and intention to participate in the two events. The Chairman said the Association will not relent in its efforts to win more laurels and will remain focused on their training programmes in preparations for the two major events. He said that the Association would therefore need the approval of the sector ministry for the needed budgetary allocation to prepare for the competitions. Mr Aboagye said the participation of Ghana at the Africa Championship would revive their membership in the activities of the Africa Weightlifting Federation (AWF), since they have being dormant for the past years. According to Mr Aboagye, Ghana's participation in the two events will also popularize the sport and increase the confidence of Ghanaians in the sport.

Mr Aboagye however noted that the topmost priority for their participation is to continue winning medals for the nation and to rub shoulders with the bigger nations since the sport has come of age in the country. He said they are considering increasing the participants in the two competitions and also include at least three females. The Chairman said Ghana has more lifters but due to financial considerations they had to present only three or less than that in major competitions. "It's time for the nation to extend its newly discovered strength to the rest of Africa and the world, since we have seen considerable growth over the past years", the Chairman added. He said that the Association would use the platform provided them in the Africa championship for the World as well as the next edition of the All Africa Games. 31 March 05