Sports News of Thursday, 2 August 2012

Source: Erasmus Kwaw

London 2012: Ghanaian athletes Geared Up for Competition

Long jumper Ignisious Gaisah and Vida Anim are rearing to compete in the Olympic Games when the athletics competition gets underway on Friday, 3rd August, 2012.

Gaisah, who made his first appearance at the Olympic Games in 2008, last competed at the Diamond League at Crystal Palace and also at a local meet at Brickfields in Plymouth before the team arrived in the Olympic Village.

“He has made significant improvements regards to the technical problems he encountered in his last few competitions,” Team Ghana leader and long jump coach Dr. Andrew Owusu said. In a related development, sprinter Vida Anim has almost completely recovered from the injury she sustained at the African Athletics Championship in June. The national sprint queen has worked hard on fitness since sustaining a hamstring injury during 2012 African Championships. Most of her rehabilitation and workouts took place at the state of the art sports facilities at the University College Plymouth, Marjon during the pre-Olympic Games training camp.

She is expected to be in action when the women’s 200m event takes place on Monday 6th August. Sprint coach Leo Myles-Mills said, “Vida has made significant progress”.” “She is almost fully recovered and I expect her to be close to top form in five days’ time when the women’s 200m event commences.”

Meanwhile, African Heptathlon Queen is still recovering from an acute kidney infection she acquired 3 weeks ago.

Tests carried out last week indicate that the primary infection has cleared, but she is still on her way to full recovery. Team doctor Angela El-Adas is closely monitoring her progress. Meanwhile, Team leader Dr. Andrew Owusu says Margaret was confirmed today for competition this Friday. However both Dr. Owusu and Coach Myles-Mills indicate the final decision on Margaret’s participation will be made at the last possible moment.