Weightlifting contingent leaves for Championship

Accra, Aug 28, GNA -- An eight-man Ghana weightlifting contingent left last Saturday, for Casablanca, Morroco to participate in the Africa Weightlifting Championship.

The championship is expected serve as qualification towards the next edition of the All Africa Games in Algeria, 2007.


The contingent includes five weightlifters, the Chairman and General Secretary of the Ghana Weightlifting Association, (GWA) Mr Johnson Cliff Aboagye and Saka Acquaye.


The selected lifters who made the trip include Dora Abotsi, the only female member of the contingent.


She will represent the nation in the 48 kilogram category. Daniel Darko will also compete in the 52 kilogram category with Seth Degbe, making a case for the nation in the 62 kilogram category, whilst Albert Abotsi, the nation's first medallists in the sport, will compete in the 94 kilogramme category.

Abotsi who won all three medals in the All Africa Games in Abuja Nigeria, will seek to make amends this time after failing to win a medal at the last Commonwealth Games in Melbourne, Australia. Majeti Fetrie, Ghana's gold medallist at the last Commonwealth Games is a medal hopeful for the nation as he competes in the 77 kilogram.


Fetrie who doubles as the trainer of the team, expressed the hope that the nation will bring home more medals.


The Ghanaian contingent however joined the championship late due to delay encountered from the Africa Weightlifting Federation (AWF). The AWF according to information reaching the GNA Sports, delayed in releasing the official invitation letter to the local association. The team is meanwhile expected back on Saturday, September 2.