Team Ghana captain, Joseph Paul Amoah and James Dadzie both won their respective heats to qualify for the semi finals of men’s 200m sprints yesterday at the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland.
Amoah, also the national 200m record holder and bronze medalist from Birmingham 2022, blazed to a blistering start to win Heat 1 in an emphatic 20.36 seconds, while Dadzie produced an outstanding 20.69s to win Heat 9, as both booked their places in the next round with confidence, even with the rain pouring down incessantly.
The composed performances reinforced Ghana’s prospects for a medal in the sprints following disappointing returns in the 100m.
Amoah, Dadzie and Mustapha Bokpin who drew a bye into the semis, will push for qualification to the finals later today as the country continues its quest for a place on the podium in Glasgow.
No such good news for Anita Afrifa who withdrew from the women’s 200m heats before take-off after feeling a sharp pain in her right knee, while Lovina Ewusi could only finish 5th in the women’s 400m hurdles heat and missed progress to the next round.
“It’s really tough running in these conditions, sometimes we do train like this to get us ready but it’s never easy,” Amoah said after the race.
“I’m not going to underestimate anybody because the competition just keeps getting tougher. I will dig in, stay focused, run my best and hopefully I can win the gold,” Amoah said as he aims to go a step further than the bronze he won in Birmingham four years ago.
Nettey's defeat
Elsewhere yesterday, Ghana’s hopes in adding medals in boxing were dealt a heavy blow after 21-year-old Precious Akai Nettey suffered a comprehensive 0-5 defeat in men’s 70 kg semi finals to experienced Mauritian, Mervel Clair, 33, who is appearing at his 4th Commonwealth Games.
Desmond Pappoe, an 80 kg campaigner, on the other hand, was eliminated even without throwing a punch, after being forced to withdraw from his much anticipated clash with Canadian-born of Ghanaian descent Joshua Ofori due to a shoulder injury.
Meanwhile, weightlifter Forrester also narrowly missed the podium after finishing 5th in the men’s 94kg weightlifting final, despite a valiant effort. Ghana’s push for medals in weightlifting continue today with Abdul Salim Adjei competing in the 110+ kg division.
US-born hurdler Evonne Britton also makes her Commonwealth Games debut in the women’s 100m hurdles today, with Ghana still seeking to add to the two medals already secured by para thrower Zinabu Issah and boxer Amadu Mohammed.
