Day 5 at African Youth Games

African Youth Games Day 5

Ghana’s two medallists in the men’s and women’s weightlifting competition are set to be

rewarded with two more medals each after an anomaly was detected by the African

Weightlifting Federation.

The athletes were apparently not given the standard three medals each for placing second in the

snatch and, clean and jerk categories during their medal ceremonies due to a shortage of

medals.

According to the Head coach of the Weightlifting team, Albert Abotsi, after competing in both

the snatch and clean and jerk competitions, the athletes should have been given three medals

based on their final placements in the three different event categories: i.e. the snatch, clean and

jerk and also for the total amount of weight they lifted.

Albert Abotsi revealed that Team Ghana has already been notified of the decision by the African

Weightlifting Federation to present the four medals to the athletes on Tuesday, 27 May in

Gaborone.

This will bring Team Ghana’ total medal haul to six after Day 5 of the Games.

Badminton:

There was more disappointment from Team Badminton in the singles events on day five of the

Games, after number one seed Abraham Ayittey and his colleagues failed to make it to the semi

finals and medal zones of their respective events.

In an uncharacteristic fashion, Ayittey was defeated by Mauritius’s top seed, Paul Julien in two

straight sets 21:15 21-13.

There was more heartache for Ayittey as he and his partner Mohammed Adam missed the

chance to win a medal in the men’s doubles after losing to Botswana’s Tsepo Perekisi and

Tumisang Olekantse 21:18 21-19 in two closely fought sets.

It seemed fatigue had finally taken its toll on the youngsters because soon after, the pair of

Ayittey and Diana Archer also lost out on an opportunity to medal when they lost the mixed

doubles quarter finals to their counterparts from Mauritius, Paul Julien and Allet Aurelie 21-11

21-15.

In another mixed doubles encounter, Ghana’s Mohammed Adam and Victoria Asmah made a

bright start in their game against Egypt’s Youssef Essam and Farida Mostafa, winning the first set

before succumbing 14-21 21-17 23-21.

Diana Archer made a bold attempt to bring some hope to Ghana’s fading medal hopes when she

came back from a set down to level 1:1, but she could do very little to stop Nigeria’s Dorcas

Adesokan from winning the third set in the women’s singles 1/16th tie 21-17 7-21 21-17.

Table Tennis:

Team Table Tennis recorded an impressive outing in the mixed doubles event as Isaac Amoako

and Eve Adom Amankwah qualified for the quarter finals of the event.

The pair beat Zambia 2:0 but lost 2:1 to Nigeria to advance. They will get to know their next

opponent after the draw is made on Tuesday morning.

The duo are billed to be in action later on in the day for a place in the semi finals and a chance to

medal.

Cycling:

Ghana’s lone cyclist, Frank David Awuku is set to be in action on Tuesday morning in the Cycling

competition.

Editors note:

Ghana has won six silver medals in the African Youth Games so far with all medals coming in the

Weightlifting competition.

Juliana Arkoh set the ball rolling with three silver medals in the girl’s 63kg category on Friday and

was soon followed by Christian Amoah who also won three silver medals in the men's 77kg

weightlifting competition.

The athletics competition starts on Wednesday, 28 May. Ghana will be represented by 10

athletes made of sprinters, middle distance runners and field event competitors.

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