Weightlifting: Black Cranes get busy for Tokyo Olympics qualifiers

The national weightlifting team, Black Cranes, has begun preparations towards the 2021 Olympic Games in Tokyo following the lifting of restrictions on sports activities in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Tokyo 2020 Olympics scheduled to take place from July 24 to August 9 this year was deferred by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to July 23, 2021 due to the coronavirus outbreak.

Early preparations
Even though borders have still not been opened to allow for international competitions, the spokesman of the Ghana Weightlifting Federation, John Vigah, believed that the Black Cranes’ early training by the five weightlifters would enable them to prepare adequately for the Tokyo Games.

In an interview with the Daily Graphic, Mr Vigah revealed that due to the increase in the coronavirus cases, some of the weightlifters had been directed to train at home.

“Even though the government has given us the green light to train, we have directed some of our weightlifters to train at home due to the increased cases of the coronavirus,” he explained.

Target
London-based Forrester Osei and Christian Amoah are seeking for their qualification tickets for the global event, with both athletes intensifying their training at their various bases in Ghana and abroad in readiness for the qualifiers.‘

The two weightlifters are expected to participate in the finals of the African qualifiers in Mauritius in August to determine their fate.

Amoah and Osei participated in the 6th Islamic Solidarity Sports Federation Annual Weightlifting Championship in Uzbekistan. The duo put up a good performance to earn Osei three silver medals in the 95kg category, with Amoah picking two bronze medals in the same weight class.

They both participated in the 2016 Rio Olympic Games in Brazil and hope to qualify for the next edition in Tokyo next year.