Rio Paralympics: Amadu Finishes 9th In High Jump

Ghana’s sole representative in the track and field department of the Paralympics in Rio, Yussif Amadu, couldn’t fulfill his quest of winning a medal for Ghana after placing ninth in the High Jump T42 category.

The 38-year-old was able to jump a height of 1.68 metres which fell short of his personal best of 1.70 metres.

Speaking to Sportscrusader.com from his base in the Olympic Village in Rio, Amadu lamented the different strategy employed by most of his counterparts who use their back to execute the jump.

He said: “I will have to change my style of jumping, so as to enable me improve on my jump, but I will come back home and work on my mistakes.”

Ghana’s representatives at the games which include Alem Mumuni (Cycling) and Charles Teye Narh (Power lifter) have all crashed out of the event in their respective disciplines.

Rio Paralympics: Amadu Finishes 9th In High Jump

Video: Team Ghana At Rio Paralympics Opening Ceremony

Ghana’s contingent for the Rio Paralympics partook in the opening ceremony that was held in the Maracana stadium.

Ghana is making its fourth appearance at the Paralympics and will be represented by three para-athletes namely; Alem Mumuni (Para- Cycling), Charles Teye Narh and Yussif Amadu (High Jump).

 

A four-member delegation consisting Mr. Saka Acquaye, Deputy Director-General, National Sports Authority (NSA), Bishop Cornelius Adjah Coffie, President of the National Paralympic Committee (NPC), Mr. Ignatius Elletey, General Secretary of NPC and Sessi Dzakpasu, Technical Director of NPC, left the country to join the athletes in the Olympic Village

Video: Team Ghana At Rio Paralympics Opening Ceremony

Para-Athletes Ready To Rock Rio Paralympics

The 2016 Paralympics begin on Wednesday with Rio’s Maracana stadium again the iconic setting for the opening ceremony of a Games staged against a backdrop of austerity and doping.

Less than three weeks after the flame was doused on South America’s first Olympic Games, Rio de Janeiro welcomes 4,300 Paralympians seeking their own slice of sporting glory.

Stars include Iranian powerlifter Siamand Rahman, Britain’s wheelchair racer David Weir and China’s blind sprinter Liu Cuiqing.

Two new events — canoe-kayak and triathlon — make their appearance on the 22-sport menu, with competitors from 161 nations — but not one Russian amongst them.

Russian para-athletes, who finished second behind China in the London 2012 medals table, were last month barred from the Sept 7-18 Games by the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) following a World Anti-Doping Agency report which alleged a vast state-sponsored doping program.

 

Six countries are sending athletes for the very first time — Aruba, Congo, Malawi, Somalia, Sao Tome and Principe and Togo.

 

Ghana is making it fourth appearance at the Paralympics and will be represented by three para-athletes namely Alem Mumuni (Para- Cycling), Charles Teye Narh and Yussif Amadu (High Jump)

Para-Athletes Ready To Rock Rio Paralympics

Ghana Paralympic Team Receives Support (Photos)

CEO of Dan de van group of companies, Mr. Daniel Nii Mensah, has donated a set of kits to Team Ghana ahead of the 2016 Rio Paralympics which kick-starts on September 7, 2016.

Director general of the National Sports Authority, Mr. Joe kpenge received the presentation on behalf of team Ghana and expressed appreciation for the kind gesture demonstrated by Dan de van. He encouraged him to keep doing good for mother Ghana.

On his part ,Mr. Mensah was grateful for such appreciation and insisted it was part of his social responsibility as a company and would continue to do more for mother Ghana.

Meanwhile, the National Paralympic Committee (NPC) of Ghana has called for support for their disabled athletes as they have expressed the difficulty in funding for the trip

Three para athletes- Alem Mumuni (paracycling),Charles Narh (powerlifting) and Yusif Mohammed (High jump) would represent the nation at this year’s Paralympic Games.

Ghana Paralympic Team Receives Support (Photos)

Ghana"s Paralympic Failure

‘Promises’, ‘Promises’, ‘Promises’ a recurrent term that encapsulates the affection government and corporate entities have been to disabled athletes whenever they are to embark on an international assignment for Ghana.

Largely, it has been the lack of funds/sponsorship which leads to inadequacy in preparations.

Ghana’s Rio 2016 Paralympics contingent are in a limbo over their participation in this year’s mega sports event after the National Paralympic Committee (NPC) revealed last week, their failure in securing funds for the games and further appealed for funds accordingly.

Many of its athletes had difficulty in participating in various Olympic qualifiers on the African continent which made the target of at least, 10 athletes unachievable.

Ghana had three of its athletes qualifying for the games, namely; Alem Mumuni, Charles Narh and Yussif Amadu,but investigation by Sportscrusader.com indicates that Alem and Narh are in USA training for the games on personal sponsorship whilst Amadu is in Ghana hoping to join his colleagues if the NPC acquires sponsorship.

Disabled sports in Ghana, is in a downward spiral over the difficulty in securing funds for the development of disabled sports and, considering the large pool of disabled athletes across the country, it might seem a bit disheartening considering the number of talents available.

Another clear case of how Ghana has failed disabled sport was when Ghana Amputee Football Association, suffered expulsion from the World Amputee Football Federation, for non-payment of affiliation fees.

Considering the large pool of disabled athletes across the country, why has it been so difficult for the country to unearth talents for the games, so that medals could be won, since the able-bodied athletes have failed in their quest to win honors for the country.

With barely 10 days to the start of the Paralympic games, I hope Ghana’s Paralympic dream will be saved and hopefully, the country will win its first medal in Paralympic sports.

Ghana"s Paralympic Failure

Paralympics 2016: Ghana"s Para-High Jumper Hopeful Of Medal

Ghana’s sole representative in the track and field department of the Paralympics in Rio, Yussif Amadu, has expressed his confidence of winning honors for Ghana, ahead of the Paralympic Games that kick-starts on September 7, 2016.

Three athletes from Ghana qualified to the mega sports event, namely; Alem Mumuni (Cycling), Charles Teye Narh (Power Lifter) and Yussif Amadu (Long Jumper). The contingent will bid to redeem Ghana’s image, following the abysmal performance of the able-bodied athletes in the just-ended Olympics.

In an interview with Sportscrusader.com, Yussif Amadu expressed his sadness at not being able to join his colleagues who are in camp in the United States of America, preparing vigorously for the games.

However, the para-athlete is hopeful that the National Paralympic Committee can fast-track arrangements to enable him prepare adequately for the tourney.

“I need prayers from all Ghanaians, I’m very confident of winning a medal for Ghana.

“Considering my personal best which made me win gold in the Dessert Challenge in USA, I’m still preparing for the games at the El-Wak Sports Stadium and hopeful of joining my colleagues very soon.”

The 37-year-old has also represented Ghana at the All Africa Games in the Short Putt discipline. Though he placed 5th, he gained qualification to the games after coming first in the men’s category of High Jump with a height of 1.70 metres.

Paralympics 2016: Ghana"s Para-High Jumper Hopeful Of Medal

Ghanaian Para-Athletes In Switzerland For Paralympic Qualifiers

Three Ghanaian para-athletes will participate in the “Swiss Para-Athletes Grand Prix”, in Switzerland as part of efforts to seek qualification to the 2016 Paralympic Games in September.

 

The  para-athletes which includes Raphael Botsyo Nkegbe, Patrick Yaw Obeng and Felix Acheampong will be expected to make Ghana proud in the three day event that is scheduled to take place from Thursday May, 26 to Sunday May 29 in the Swiss city of Bern.

The trio who would be participating in the T54 events will  seek to book tickets to the next Paralympic Games which is less than 100 days away

 

According to the statement, Acheampong and Obeng would participate in 1500 and 800 meters, whilst Nkegbe would represent Ghana in the 100m, 200m and 400m.The statement said, the three were sponsored by the Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT) and Dan Devan Group of Companies.

 

Ghana is seeking to increase its participants at the 2016 Paralympics after Alem Mumuni (Para-cyclist) and Charles Teye Narh (Powerlifting) have already secured a spot in the mega sporting event

Ghanaian Para-Athletes In Switzerland For Paralympic Qualifiers

NPC Congratulates Ghanaian Para - Athletes For Excelling In USA

The National Paralympic Committee (NPC), Ghana has applauded the exploits of two Ghanaian para-athletes for making Ghana proud in the just ended “Desert Challenge” in the United States of America (USA).

The duo which includes Rapheal Botsyo Nkegbe and Maclean Dzidzienyo, won a gold medal in Men T54 category race and three gold medals in the Men 100, 200 and 400 meters race in the T53 category respectively.

A statement from the Secretariat of NPC read “the achievements of the two athletes, was a clear indication of their commitment and dedication to the cause of the sport.

It said, the two athletes have demonstrated their determination to book historic tickets to the 2016 Paralympic Games in Rio, later in the year.

According to the statement, though their performance could not secure them the needed qualification to the 2016 Paralympic Games, it has however pushed them closer to the ultimate.

It added, the athletes would need to work harder in subsequent qualifiers to enable them to book a place in the competition.

The statement urged corporate organisations and individuals to support the participation of para-athletes in the search for Rio Paralympic tickets.

Ghana has so far secured two athletes; Charles Teye Narh and Allem Mumuni for the power-lifting and cycling respectively for the upcoming games Paralympics In September

NPC Congratulates Ghanaian Para - Athletes For Excelling In USA