The Secretary of the Ghana Weightlifting Association, Hussein Arday, has expressed his pleasure at the country’s positive performances at the ongoing African Youth Games in Gaborone, Botswana.
Juliana Arkoh and Christian Amoah won the medals in the snatch and clean-and-jerk event in the competition to move Ghana’s current tally medals to six silver medals in all disciplines and the according to Arday, the feat is not too surprising to the association after months of preparation.
” Those of us at the weightlifting association are not shocked at what the athletes have done. It would have been more surprising if they had not won anything.
The only unfortunate thing is that we could not win the gold medals but that was because those athletes came from countries like Egypt and Tunisia where better facilities for weightlifting are available”, said Arday in an interview with Citi Sports on Tuesday.
Ghana’s next major international assignment is the Commonwealth Games in Scotland in July and Arday said the good performances in the African Youth Games should be enough motivation to drive the seniors to get medals for Ghana.
” What is means for us is that there is some hope and expectation on the senior weightlifters to do well in the Commonwealth Games this year. If the juniors have excelled this way, the senior must also train very well and do same even though the facilities are not available.”
By: Nathan Quao/citifmonline.com/Ghana