Weightlifting federation faces selection headache
The Technical Director of the Ghana Weightlifting Federation (GWF), Dr Kyle Pierce, has admitted that the federation faces a "very tough choice" in deciding who represents Ghana at the 2016 Olympic Games in Brazil.
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The National Male Weightlifting Team, the Black Cranes, last week qualified to participate in the Rio Olympics through the team’s qualification system at the African Championships in Cameroon. however only one Ghanaian will be permitted into the games which comes off in August.
Dr Pierce on the team's arrival in the country last Saturday told the Graphic Sports that the federation was yet to discuss the criteria that were going to be used to select the lucky weightlifter.
"It is going to be a very difficult choice to decide who goes but I cannot speak on it because we are yet to discuss which criteria are going to be used to select the athlete.
But for now we are very happy to have qualified, as I understand this is the first time Ghana has qualified on merit to take part in weightlifting at the Olympics because in the past we took part on a wild card," Dr Pierce noted.
A member of the team, Forrester Osei, said he was hopeful that he would be given the nod because he was not going to relent on his performances, especially training.
I am not going to lie, I want to be in Brazil for the Olympics and I have told my teammates that I am working hard and they have assured me that they will be doing same.", he stated.
Ghana's 122 qualification points in Cameroun were scored by David Akwei (18 points), Nii Darku Dodoo (19 points), Prince Nyarko (21 points), Christian Amoah (21 points), Forrester Osei (21 points) and Theophilus Tackie (22 points) while the only lady in Ghana's contingent, Ruth Baffoe won three bronze medals.
