Badminton hosts historic tourney July 20
A former treasurer and vice-president of the Ghana Badminton Association, Evans Yeboah, says the nation will host an international badminton competition on July 20 for the first time in the country’s history.
“This tournament will involve 38 countries across the world, while a two million dollars grand master plan for the sport is being developed by me to grow and develop the game in the country,” he noted.
He also revealed that a badminton league will be launched in September this year that will feature the 16 badminton clubs in the country, adding that a new ranking and point system would be the criteria for the selection of players for national assignments.
In an exclusive interview with the Daily Graphic in Accra last Wednesday, the 39-year-old Chartered Management Accountant and investment banker, who is standing unopposed as president in the upcoming elections of the association slated for April 29, said the future of badminton in Ghana was very bright.
“We are second in Africa behind Mauritius and we have been able to train 10 licensed badminton coaches,” he noted.
According to him, three prominent personalities; the Deputy Minister of Agriculture, William Agyapong Quaittoo; a former Ambassador, Skido Achulo; and a deputy director of the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority, Kinsford Nii Otoo, would be acclaimed as executive members at the congress and tasked with shoring up corporate finance for badminton.
Mr Yeboah noted that the association had identified six under-19 talents namely: George Aryeetey, Gordin Joseph, Ebenezer Andrews, Grace Atipaka, Eryram Yaa Nigbrodzi and Eunice Arthur who are the nation’s world championship hopefuls.
“Satellite districts development of the sport is on the ascendency, the game is widely active in six regions, while the Brong Ahafo and the three northern regions needed more to accept the sport,” he stated.
Mr Yeboah also disclosed that he had been appointed to serve on the Badminton World Federation (BWF) Council.