Ghana gains slot for the 2016 Olympic Games

Ghana's Badminton prodigy, Daniel Sam has been selected among the list of African players who will represent the continent at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio, Brazil.

This was announced by the Badminton Confederation of Africa at the just ended Africa Badminton Seniors championship held in Mauritius from 13-20 august, 2013. it would be recalled that, Sam paired with Solomon Nyarko to win a bronze medal for Ghana at the 2011 All africa Games, Maputo. Apparently, he won Gold in the Men's single at the 2008 Under-15 Africa Juniors in Egypt as well as Team Bronze and individual Silver at the 2009 Africa Under-19 Championship in Ethiopia.

Ghana's sole player for the 2014 Youth Olympic Games, Abraham Ayittey managed to reach round 3 in the Men's singles of the championship where he was beaten by the South African Gold medallist Jacob Maliekal in the scores of 21-10 and 21-12.

The pair of Stella Amasah and Evelyn Botwe for the Women's Doubles were eliminated at the first round by South Africa in a 21-16, 21-16 score. Stella's dream of progression to the medal zone was again quashed by the Egyptia star, Nadine Ashraf at round 3 of the Women's singles where she lost by 21-8 and 21-19.

South Africa won gold in the teams event with Nigeria and mauritius picking silver and bronze respectively.

Daniel Sam who fell sick in the preliminary rounds of the championship, really affected the team's performance but has however bounced back to a winning spree after defeating his Algerian opponent in a 21-17,21-17 match in the Men's singles event at the ongoning Mauritius International Badminton Series due to close on 24th August.

Sam is expected to join the African Olympic Team training camp in South Africa later this year after an official approval is jointly signed by the Ghana Olympic Committee, the Ministry of Youth and Sports, the National Sports Authority and the Badminton Association of Ghana and forwarded to the Badminton World federation (BWF) and Badminton Confederation of Africa (BCA). BWF and BCA believes that awarding Daniel Sam this scholarship will lead to his prospects, fully exploited during the training period so as to represent Africa and Ghana gracefully at the multisport event in Rio2016.

Ghana would also begin the implementation of the Badminton World Federation's (BWF) Schools project titled "Shuttle Time" by October this year, after the President and BCA Council Member, Mr Nestor Galley concluded follow-up discussions with the BWF officials in Mauritius.

The team is expected back in the country on 27th August, 2013.