Ghana’s national armwrestling team, the Golden Arms, has returned triumphant from the 46th World Armwrestling Championship in Albena, Bulgaria, securing a historic haul of three medals and attributing their success to the pivotal support of the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA).
The team’s remarkable performance, which yielded two silver medals and one bronze, has been described as a landmark achievement for the sport in the country.
The medalists emerged from the nation’s security services, showcasing their strength on the international stage. Mabel Yeboah, a civilian officer with the Ghana Prisons Service, made an spectacular debut at the world championship, defeating opponents from powerhouse nations including Turkey, Sweden, Germany, and France. Her efforts earned Ghana a bronze medal in the 60kg youth women left arm category and a silver medal for the right arm in the same category.
Similarly, Immigration Officer Blessed Abeka Nunoo displayed immense resilience; after a challenging first day, she revised her technique and adopted a hook style to battle her way to the finals, securing another silver medal for Ghana and bringing pride to the entire African continent.
The President of the Ghana Armwrestling Federation, Mr. Charles Osei Asibey, who was "super enthused with the performance of the Golden Arm," directly credited the NHIA for the team's success.
He expressed his gratitude "to the NHIA and the NHIS insurance scheme for their immense support, commending them for their key contribution in ensuring team Ghana participated." Mr. Osei Asibey elaborated that the Authority's backing was instrumental, noting that "the support played a significant role in the training and preparation, boosting the team's momentum and ensuring a successful competition." He described the NHIA as "a cornerstone of the team's growth and development," acknowledging the "numerous instances of support the NHIA has extended to the Golden Arms."
The team’s technical prowess became a major talking point at the tournament, with the statement noting that "the display of dexterity by the Golden Arms was the talk of the tournament as many coaches and federation heads from different part of the world applauded their style and technique."
The athletes received standing ovations "match after match" as they executed their mandate. Following this world championship success, the Federation is now calling for wider corporate sponsorship. President Osei Asibey has "called on corporate Ghana and state institutions to emulate the NHIA steps to enhance sports development and participation." The Golden Arms are now setting their sights on future continental challenges, focusing their preparations on the 2026 Africa Armwrestling Championship to be hosted by Ghana in Accra and the 2027 African Games in Egypt.
