The president of Ghana Taekwondo Federation, Mr.Frederick Lartey Otu has showered praises on the organising committees and the sponsors following the success of the first Ghana Open Taekwondo Championship.
The Ghana Open International Taekwondo Championships was held at the Sports Hall of the Accra Sports Stadium from 18th to 19th August, 2017.
Over one hundred athletes from 15 countries registered to participate in the competition and Mr. Lartey Otu expressed how impresed he was with the overall organisation.
“This first Ghana Open Taekwondo championships being first of its kind, I must say that I am impressed about the patronage. The organising committee did very well to put up a whole event and I think the sponsors also did very well. We over spent our budget because of the renovation of the sports hall. We didn’t anticipated to spend so much”. Mr. Otu Lartey noted.
Ghana’s neighbouring country, Ivory Coast topped the medal table with 16 medals.
Eighteen (18) athletes from Ghana participated and won six (6) medals, three silver and three bronze but the president of Ghana Taekwondo said, he was excited about Ghanaians performance.
“a competition of such kind is not just winning medals,our athletes are new athletes. After we couldn’t qualify to Rio Olympic games,all elites athletes retired so we are now grooming new athletes so am not surprise about how they performed,am even happy that they were able to win six medals, 3 silver and 3 bronze. This championships has given them exposure ,they had opportunities to meet their opponents from other countries”
The following are Ghanaians athletes who won medal in their various weight category;
+73kg – Nadia Sackitey (Silver)
-62kg – Mercy Asiateire (Silver)
-49kg – Henrietta Armah (Bronze)
-46kg – Kerzia Gbedze (Bronze)
-54kg – Addo Benson (Silver)
-68kg – Issah Safianu (Bronze)
By: Gabriel Obu