The Ghana Para Powerlifting team, the Black Optimists is set to depart the shores of the country to Manchester in the UK to participate in the Manchester 2021 Road to Tokyo Para Powerlifting World Cup.
This is one of the last events that offers an opportunity for athletes to gain and solidify their qualification slots to the Paralympic Games in Tokyo.
The team which has been in camp in Cape Coast since February is in very high hopes of raking in medals and raising the flag of Ghana on this international platform.
Athletes like Vida Antwi, Tahiru Haruna and Emmanuel Oku among others have been sighted displaying their high hopes of making Ghana proud at the competition.
In February 2020, the team attended the 2020 edition of the competition and won a Bronze medal after winning Gold, Silver and Bronze a few days before in Abuja during the Abuja 2020 World Para Powerlifting World Cup.
In a short interview with one of the coaches, he asked for the support of the country as the team is determined to give a good performance to promote the sport in the country and the African continent.
On his part, the Secretary General of the NPC-Ghana, Mr. Peter Adjei said, “The sport has grown since 2015, it will keep growing and it will become one of the greatest Para sport in the country, I am glad we are witnessing it”.
By Akakpo Agodji
