Information gathered by GNA Sports from the Association’s Secretariat reveals that four judokas were selected from the 14 weight categories including males and females.  In the Men’s -60kg, Dominic Agudoo, Abdulah Idriss, Razak Mumuni and Jones Mintah made the grade, whilst Rashid Alhassan, Abel Aziz Addy, Joseph Ocquaye and Ibrahim Mumuni made entry into the 66kg weight category with Bruce Adjaho, Ousumanu Mohammed, Prosper Kudor/Richard Nyamako were selected for the 73kg.

In the 81kg, Raymond Normeshie, Godwin Dadi, Daniel Anyen Atta and Abdul Karim Aziz were selected while David Kwame Adama, Humphrey Akpeleasi and Alex Tetteh are for the 90kg division with Kamaru Salawu Zakari Amidu and Jacob Sagoe and Abdul Mumuni Mahmood picking the 100kg weight slots.

William Amankwah, Charles Myers and Sitault Lassen Dimitri picked the +100kg slots, whilst Raymond Normeshi, Daniel Agyen Atta, William Amankwata and Godwin Dadi selected for the Men’s Open.  In the women division, Mamata Amidu and Deborah Arthur were picked for the 48kg slot, Christiana Amewu, Elizabeth Amankwah, Freda Kpodo and Rosemond Quansah go for the 57kg category.

Cynthia Dotsey, Angela Anim, Stephanie Tenkorang and Lita Kuewor made it to the Women’s -70, 63 Open with Favour Faituxo, Jane Akorli, Charity Dumashie and Emelia Milla-Amekor picking up the -78kg Open slots.  In the boys Under-13 years’ category, Ismaiya Fuseini, Joshua Quarcoo, Wahid Dodoo and Aganya Frank were selected whilst Gideon Sama Eleazer Dodoo, Bismark Yartey and Ali Mumuni were picked for the 56kg category.

Patrick Anyidoho Cofie, General Secretary of the GJA, told GNA Sports that the selected Judokas will undergo further screening to select the final team, to represent the nation at the African Judo Championship in Dakar, Senegal from July 26 to August 3rd this year

About 200 judokas are expected to participate in the event, which will be under the sponsorship of the National Sports Council (NSC), the GJA and the Japan Embassy. Patrick Anyidoho, General Secretary of the GJA, told GNA Sports that the selected judokas after the event will represent the nation at the African Judo Championship in Dakar, Senegal from July 26 to August 3rd this year.

He said that the event which is also part of the activities marking the Japanese Week Celebrations will be used to strengthen ties between the two countries.  Anyidoho said the championship will be attended by H. E. Keiichi Katakami, Japanese Ambassador to Ghana and the Chief Executive Officer of the NSC.  He added that the Association has already conducted a seminar for 15 referees, whilst weighing of Judokas will be done a day before the main event.

GNA

- – - – In a related story  . . .

16 Karate-Do for camping

   Accra, March 18, GNA – The Ghana Karate-Do Association has selected 16 karate-do’s to form the nucleus of the national team.
   The selected Karate-Do’s are Jeanu Awa, Richard Graham, Reuben Banful, Jerry Williams, Patrick Amakyi, Ernest Agogie, Victor Lartey and Isaac Edusei Eyison.
   The rest are Emmanuel Ofori, Bright Tetteh, Emmanuel Adjei, Samuel Obeng, John Asah, Adama Anani, Robert Adokoh and Adnan Basha.
   Patrick Anyidoho, General Secretary of GJA said those to be selected will be camped at the National Hockey Stadium in Accra for two weeks.
   He said the camping is in preparations towards the International Union of Federation of Africa Karate-Do (UFAK) Zone 3 championship slated for April 12-18 in Niamey, Niger.
   The Niamey championship is a qualifier for the 13th African Championship slated for Cape Town, South Africa in August, 2010.
GNA

The newly-appointed coach of the Taekwondo National Team, Norbert Amefu who briefed GNA Sports on the trip in Accra said he was hopeful that the team can grab a number medals at the event.

The former Africa best Taekwondo Coach at the Abuja All African Games therefore called on Ghanaians, especially the corporate bodies and fans of the Taekwondo sport to ensure they lend their support to the success of the exploits of the Association.

“We need your support, wisdom, prayers and not just your financial support.  There are many potential of martial arts in the country, who when given the needed support and encouragement can be of benefit and take to martial arts as a profession, instead of engaging in anti-social activities.

It’s our corporate responsibility to create a conducive society in which we see fighting as a sporting discipline and not crime”, he added. The players who represented Ghana at the event are made up of two females and four males.

 The male team has Emmanuel Deh Semenyo, Augustine Lolli, Mohammed Hussein and Alhassan Atao representing -58 kgs, +87kgs, +67 kgs, and +87kgs weight categories while Cynthia Dotse and Favour Fiatuxo would participate in the -62 kgs and -67 kgs weight divisions.