Other Sports of Wednesday, 14 August 2013

Source: Sammy Heywood Okine

Badminton Team for Mauritius

The National Senior Badminton Team left Accra on Tuesday 13th August to Mauritius to participate in the All Africa Seniors Badminton Championship scheduled from 14-20 August.

According to William Kyei, the Sports Development Officer, a contingent of 8 comprising 5 players (3boys and 2 girls) and 3 officials will represent Ghana, comprising Daniel Sam, Emmanuel Donkor, Abraham Ayittey, Stella Amasah and Evelyn Botwe.

He said Team Ghana will be led by the President and Badminton Confederation of Africa (BCA) Council Member, Mr Nestor Galley with Frank Shamo and Jacob E. Wilson as the team coaches.

The team will also participate in the 2013 Yonex Mauritius International Badminton championship which is a Badminton World Federation (BWF) sanctioned future series event from Wednesday 21st to Saturday 24th August. Our players will compete in the men's singles, womens's singles, men's doubles, women's doubles, mixed doubles and team events for both competitions.

Ghana's participation would consolidate the implementation of the Badminton World Federation (BWF) Schools project dubbed "Shuttle Time" in the country to develop the sport from grassroots with equipment assistance from the BWF; as Ghana is the only West African country selected for this project with the apparent visit of a BWF official, Raj Gaya to Accra in June.

Ghana only reached a quarter final berth at the last edition of the Africa Seniors championship held in Ethiopia in 2011.

Countries that make it to the final medals would be lucky to have their players selected into the Badminton Confederation of Africa's (BCA) training program towards the 2016 Rio Olympic Games.

The team is expected back in the country on Monday 26th August, 2013.