Team UG displaying the school’s flag after the event
The University of Ghana (UG) Athletics Team (track and field) topped the athletics medal table at the 27th Ghana Universities Sports Association (GUSA) Games being held at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi.
The Director of Sports, UG, Dr. Bella Bello Bitugu, stated, “This is the manifestation of the silent and patient investment. It means we are doing something right to beat even those universities that specialise in physical education and sports. This is the result of what we are doing. I personally feel fulfilled and thank you, Team UG, from Senior Management to the student athletes.”
UG amassed a total of 23 medals, comprising 10 gold, seven silver and six bronze in nine track and seven field events. It won gold in 100m men, 200m women, 400m men and women, 1500m men, 4x100m men, Javelin women, Discus men, High Jump men, and Long Jump men.
Cadman Evans Dufu Yamoah, a Level 400 student who benefited from the University of Ghana’s Policy on the Admission of Athlete Students (UG-PAAS), broke the GUSA record of 2.05 meters to set a new record of 2.11 meters to win gold in the high jump.
Interestingly, he set the old record when UG hosted the 26th edition in 2020. Cadman was elated to bow out of the GUSA Games on a high at an individual level and engrave UG in gold again in the ultimate tertiary sports competition. He stated that, “I am delighted to win my second GUSA gold medal in High Jump and set the record for two consecutive times. Ebenezer Gyimah of the University of Cape Coast gave me a stern competition; however, I was determined to write my name and that of UG in gold correctly, so it happened.”
The Head of Athletics Coaches at the Sports Directorate and in charge of field events, Mr. Emmanuel Bruce-Okine Jr., recounted how far the team has come. He remarked that it was not a walk in the park but hard work, months and years of training that ensured UG achieved this feat. However, he stated that more training time than the usual will be given to the female athletes, especially to condition them to the standards of winning laurels at the extramural level.
Augustine Amissare, Senior Assistant Registrar at the Sports Directorate, credited the feat to the well-structured programmes and policies put in place by the Sports Directorate with support from Senior Management of the University.
He added that the team’s performance will be carefully analyzed and evaluated in order to strengthen it shortfalls and consolidate the positives.
The Games are still ongoing, with ball and racket games yet to end.
From The Sports Desk