2 Weightlifters win silver medals

Ghana's weightlifting team at the African Youth Games being staged in Gaborone have won six medals as their events ended last Sunday.

The pair of Juliana Arko and Christian Amoah won three silver medals each in their respective events to place Ghana's name on the medals table after swimming and badminton had been disappointing.

Medals were given for the clean and jerk, as well as the snatch events, with another given for the overall performance. 

Arko, the SWAG weightlifter of the Year, won silver in the 63kg event with a total of 140kg in her two events, while Christian Amoah also won in the 77kg event with a total of 125kg. He lifted 100kg in the snatch and 125kg in the clean and jerk.

Arko last year won eight medals at the African Weightlifting Championships held in Casablanca.

The feat has also earned the two weightlifters tickets to this year's Youth Olympics to be held in Nanjing, China in August.

Mr Ben Nunoo-Mensah, the president of the Weightlifting Federation in Ghana, said he was happy with the performance of the two weightlifters and was proud that once again, weightlifting had brought Ghana honours at the international scene.

"I'm proud of the athletes and I've already congratulated them on their achievement. For me it goes to buttress the point that given the needed push, weightlifting will be the next big sport for Ghana on the international scene."