Accra, Aug. 2, GNA 96 As the August 8 date approaches for the introduction of kick-boxing in Ghana, many Ghanaian boxers are gearing up to participate in the trials that will give them the chance to convert to the new sport.

The sport, whose first trials have been scheduled for the Prisons Canteen at Cantonment in Accra, beginning from 10:00 a.m. next Tuesday, will offer 40 Ghanaian youth the opportunity to get selected for grooming towards professional careers in kick-boxing.

So far, more than 120 able bodied youth, mostly from the various boxing gyms in Accra have indicated their willingness to participate in the trials and many more are expected to register before the D-day. Under the auspices of the Bukuro Gym of Japan and the Remix Company also of Japan, which will provide the technical and administrative support respectively for the growth of the sport in the country, kick-boxing would give the youth another variety of combat sport to choose from.

The project liaison and consultant to the local organisers, Afro Orient Company Limited of Ghana, Dr Christian Kpodar told the GNA Sports that he had received numerous enquiries about the project since its introduction was announced a fortnight ago.

He said Afro Orient Ghana Limited had also received assurances from Bukuro Gym of Japan that every logistics needed for the development of the sport in the country would be provided and urged the Ghanaian company to ensure that the project was pursued with utmost urgency so as to popularise the sport in the country as soon as possible. Dr Kpodar said as an enticement to the August 8 show, there would be refreshment at the end of the show, where officials, participants and observers would be served snacks while they interact with each other and exchange ideas.

He reiterated that some of the qualified participants would be groomed for professional careers in the oriental sport, which had the capacity to turn the lives of practitioners around.

The Consultant appealed to the youth to seize the opportunity to acquaint themselves with the rules and practices of the sport so that they would be able to make a living out of it.