Ghana’s para-athletes, Zinabu Issah and teenage sensation Gilbert Ampiah, participants in the El Hassan International Para Athletics Championships in Marrakech, Morocco, have presented the medals they won at the championship to the president of the Paralympic Committee, Mr. Samson Deen, in a short ceremony held at the committee’s head office on Tuesday morning.
Gilbert Ampiah, the 16-year-old first-year student of St. Augustine’s College who went viral in March this year during the Inter-Schools Sports Festival in Cape Coast for his high jump prowess despite his disability, won bronze in the High Jump T44 category. He achieved a height of 1.73 meters in Marrakech in what was his first international outing for the country.
Zinabu Issah, on the other hand, won gold in the F57 women’s discus throw event with a throw of 26.66 meters.
Speaking at the presentation ceremony, Mr. Samson Deen, president of the Paralympic Committee, recognized Bill Eshun, a broadcast journalist, for discovering Gilbert Ampiah and urged the media to shine more spotlight on disability sports. He also emphasized his commitment to creating awareness and support for para athletes.
Mr. Deen, who also doubles as president of the African Paralympic Committee, announced plans for the first-ever Para Sports Festival to be held later in the year.
In a short speech, Gilbert Ampiah expressed gratitude to everyone who has been part of his success story and encouraged physically challenged athletes to be bold and compete.
Also present at the ceremony were Gobina Edmund, captain of the para-athletics team; Coach Ibrahim Amin Suleman; Professor Kim, technical advisor to the Paralympic Committee; and members of the press.
Source: Ghana/StarrFM103.5FM/Jones Adzi
