by Silas Boahene | Aug 13, 2024 | Africa, Boxing, Europe, International
Algeria’s Imane Khelif achieved a historic victory at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games by defeating China’s world welterweight champion, Yang Liu, with a unanimous decision. Khelif’s win, celebrated by a large Algerian crowd at the Roland-Garros Stadium, makes her the first African female boxer to secure an Olympic gold medal.
All five judges awarded her a score of 10-9 in each round, affirming her victory. Khelif becomes Algeria’s second boxer to win Olympic gold, following Hocine Soltani’s achievement at the 1996 Atlanta Games. Her gold medal is Africa’s ninth Olympic gold, adding to the eight previous golds, including Robert ‘Aruba’ Wangila’s 1988 Seoul Olympics win. Wangila remains Africa’s first black boxer to win Olympic gold, while the other six gold medals were earned by white South African boxers during the apartheid era.
by Silas Boahene | Aug 13, 2024 | Africa, Boxing, Ghana
On last Friday’s episode of ‘The Big Fight Night’ on Omashi TV, national team boxers Sarah Apew and Perpetual Okaidja made a heartfelt appeal for support to continue pursuing their boxing aspirations. Representing the Black Hitter of Ghana, Sarah Apew from James Town Boxing Gym and Perpetual Okaidja from Black Panthers Gym were the first female athletes to feature on the popular show.
Sarah Apew, who also aspires to join the Ghana Armed Forces, shared her ambition to become a top professional boxer despite facing challenges. She highlighted that, although she won a gold medal in Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) at the 13th African Games, she has not received any recognition or reward for her achievement.
Perpetual Okaidja, who also competed in the African Games and won gold in MMA, expressed disappointment at the lack of acknowledgment for her accomplishments but remains hopeful. Both boxers voiced their support for Algerian athlete Imane Khelif, who overcame discrimination to win gold at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.
Apew, originally from the Oti Region, spoke about her transition from football to boxing and emphasized the need for encouragement for those with unique talents. Okaidja, from Bukom, shared that her passion for boxing comes from her family’s strong connection to the sport.
The episode also featured Ms. Sarah Lotus Asare, Ghana’s first female matchmaker and WBC Cares Africa Representative, who added to the discussion on promoting female boxers.
by Silas Boahene | Aug 13, 2024 | Africa, Ghana, Other Sports
Professional golfers from across the country are preparing for the upcoming West Coast Golf Championship (Road to Damang), scheduled to take place at Celebrity Golf Club in Sakumono from August 21 to 23, 2024. This event marks the third flagship pre-qualifier leading up to the main tournament in November.
Following the recent tournament at Damang Golf Club in the Western Region, the Celebrity Golf Club will host this pivotal competition, known for its intriguing setting. With the stakes high and a new venue, golfers are training intensively to secure their spots.
Male players are focused on qualifying for the main event, while emerging female golfers are also eager to showcase their skills during the three-day tournament.
Alhaji Ahmed Padori, Director of Operations at the PGA, highlighted ongoing preparations to ensure the competition’s success and encouraged golfers to be well-prepared. He expressed gratitude to Goldfields for their decade-long support and thanked the Celebrity Golf Club executives for providing their facilities for the tournament.
by Silas Boahene | Aug 13, 2024 | Africa, Ghana, Soccer
This weekend, Soccer For Dreamers extended its support to ten colt football clubs in the Eastern Region of Ghana through generous equipment donations. The beneficiary teams include Nayan SA of Ayernya, D-Shooters FC of Fiakonya, Fano Babies of Doryum, March Babies of Dodowa, Shining Star Babies of Dedenya, Estate Real United of Asutsuare, New Gen SA of Dodowa, Agormeda Youth of Agomeda, Young Heroes of Abonya, and Brazilian Babies of Kasunya.
Youth Coordinator Martin Martey Tetteh and Ghana Representative Stephane Lecosson traveled to the Eastern Region to distribute jerseys, boots, socks, bottles, and more, all provided by New York Red Bulls. Lecosson assured that other clubs across various regions will also receive similar support.
He praised Mrs. Sylvia Akwaboah, President of Soccer For Dreamers, for her leadership, and acknowledged the efforts of Ms. Rosalind Amoh, who has been instrumental in organizing female players and clubs. Previously, Soccer For Dreamers had made similar donations to male, female, and disability teams at the GFA Secretariat.
Founded by brothers Baruch, Jed, and Kayden Akwaboah, Soccer For Dreamers is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization based in New Jersey, USA, dedicated to supporting young footballers through charitable work globally.
by Silas Boahene | Aug 13, 2024 | Africa, Boxing, Ghana
Ms. Sarah Lotus Asare, Executive Secretary of WBC Cares Africa Region and Administrator at Wisdom Boxing Gym, has revealed that her dedication to supporting young boxers stems from a deep-seated passion for excellence. In an interview on The Big Fight Night on Omashi TV, Ms. Asare, Ghana’s first and only female matchmaker, credited her achievements to her environment and academic background, which initially led her to boxing. She expressed gratitude to WBC Cares and the Ghana Boxing Authority for helping her achieve her goals, especially in promoting female boxing through initiatives like the GirlsBox Tournament.
Alongside Ms. Asare, renowned photographer Mr. Ebenezer Nii Otoe Bruce-Tagoe, who won first place in the 2024 Best Sports Photographer Competition by AIPS, shared how his love for boxing inspired his career shift from weddings and events to sports photography. He highlighted the impact of sports on his life, opening doors to international opportunities and recognition. Bruce-Tagoe, who operates 29 Studios in Accra, praised Omashi TV for its impactful ‘The Big Fight Night’ program and expressed his admiration for boxing legends like Prof. Azumah Nelson and Mike Tyson.
