'Armwrestling may be considered at the next Paralympics Games' - WAF President

Mr. Mircea Simonescu Simicel, the Secretary-General of the World Armwrestling Federation (WAF) has said, the sport may be among the list of disciplines for the next Paralympics Games.

Though he did not specify, whether it would be at the Japan 2020 Paralympic Games, Mr. Simicel hinted that, the rate at which the sport was growing across the world make it a candidate possible for the multiple sports event.

He said Armwrestling was developing fast in Ghana and Africa and there was the need for courage and motivation to grow the sport, which was one of the oldest in the world and easy to play by both sexes and all ages.

The Romanian made this known when he called on the leadership of the Ghana Olympic Committee (GOC), to discuss the future of the sport, as well as brief him on preparations for the ninth Africa Armwrestling Championship to be hosted by Ghana.

He was accompanied by the President of Ghana Armwrestling Federation, Mr. Charles Osei Asibey, Mr. Julien Boumsong who is General Secretary of the African Federation and other officials from Mali, the first country to arrive for the African Championship in Accra.

Mr. Nunoo Mensah commended the officials of GAF for their hard work towards the succesful hosting of the competition.

According to the GOC President, Armwrestling is the fastest growing sport in Ghana due to the publicity it is enjoying from the media and the hard work of the organisers and President.

He stressed that they were setting a benchmark in organizing competitions and congratulated them for putting Ghana on the map.

He added that the GOC supports other disciplines, with $500,000 spent on sports development in the areas of training coaches and officials.

Julien Boumsong, the General Secretary for Africa commended Ghana for putting up splendid preparations and was optimistic of a successful competition. He thanked the GOC President who was supported by his vice, Mr. Paul K. Atchoe.

Members of the Local Organising Committee (LOC) include Kwasi Haizel – Chairman, Charles Osei Asibey – Vice-Chairman, William Ezah – COO, Mikki Osei Berko – Public Relations, Kofi Addo Agyekum, Neil Armstrong Mortagbe, and Melvin Brown – Members.

The rest are Diana De-Graft Quarshie - Member, Samuel Aryeh – Member, Dr Martin Engman – Member, Saka Acquaye – Member, Mavis Amanor – Member, Kwabena Owusu Sekyere – Member, Nathaniel Laryea – Member, and a representative from AMA and MoYS.

The 9th edition of the Africa Armwrestling Championship is scheduled to take place at the DG Hathramani Sports Hall at the Accra Sports Stadium from Thursday, July 26, 2018 to Sunday, July 29, 2018.

About 13 African countries and over 100 athletes have so far confirmed their participation in the event. Ghana won the bid after winning majority of the votes cast against Morocco at the Armwrestling Federation of Africa (AFA) Congress, held in Lagos, Nigeria, last year.

The championship is sponsored by K-Balm Ointment from Kofikrom Pharmacy, Go On Energy Drink from Twellium Industries Limited, Erata Hotel, Awards Center, I-Level Media, Henry’s Inn, Wonak Enterprise and with support from the Ministry of Youth and Sports (MoYS) and the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA).