Madam Elizabeth King, Chairperson of the Women’s Commission of the Ghana Olympic Committee GOC has called for more females qualifications to the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.

In a exclusive chat on Ghana’s participation at the world’s biggest sports festival, she said it is sad that Covid -19 pandemic hit the world to cause the postponement of the sports festival.

She lamented on the number of Ghanaian females who have so far qualified, at a time when the IOC says about 60% of the qualified athletes have made it.

Madam King, a top hockey star in her hay days urged those who are seeking for qualification in track and field to determine to go all out to make name for themselves and their country.

She said with only triple jumper, Nadia Eke who has qualified, the other female stars like high jumper Rose Yeboah, Debora Acquah the long jumper, 100 meters runner Flings Owusu Agyapong and 4x100 meters team should strive to make it.

According to Madam King who is vice president of the Ghana Hockey Association, and executive member of the continental body controlling hockey in Africa, Ghanaian athletes did very well at the last African Games in Morocco, and expects them to shine again.

“I am very confident some more female athletes will qualify, and my prayer is that they go and come home with medals or praises for their performance” she expressed.

Nine females and seven males represented Ghana at the 2016 Olympic Games in Brazil. The ladies include Szandra Szogedi (Judo), Kaya Forson (Swimming), Janet Ampomah (200m / 4x100), Flings Owusu Agyapong (100m / 4x100), Gemma Acheampong (4x100), Beatrice Gyamam (4x100), Dorcas Gyimah (4x100), Persis William - Mensah (4x100) and Akua Obeng - Akrofi (4x100).

None of them got near the medal zone in Rio, but Madam King is optimistic of a better performance in Tokyo.

“History will guide us to win a medal in Japan” she stressed.

By Sammy Heywood Okine