UG ATHLETES QUALIFY FOR FISU
Three (3) University of Ghana (UG) athletes have qualified for the International University Sports Federation (FISU) World University Games to be held in Chengdu, China, from the 28th of July – 8th August. A UG contingent of ten (10) participated in the Ghana Universities Sports Association (GUSA) trials held at the Paa Joe Stadium, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST).
UG Athletes at the GA 1st Circuit Games
William Owadie Opare, and Daniel Otibo qualified in the 400m flat race, running 47.62s and 47.74s respectively, representing the fastest and the third fastest times to beat the 49s qualifying time. Oyeyoni Oyewale-Johnson was the third UG athlete to qualify, hitting the 15.00m Triple Jump mark on his final jump after missing it by 2cm on his fifth attempt.
William Owadie Opare in action
Maxwell Peterson Wordui, the leading jumper in Ghana currently, won the Long Jump with a 7.27m leap but missed the 7.30m mark by 3cm.
Maxwell Peterson Wordui in action
Ishmael Offei and Rosemary Arthur, who run the 800m placed first and second respectively with Ishmael making a personal record of 1.53.36s but missing the 1.51.00s target. Rosemary, as a first timer in the event, run an impressive 2.16.16s missing the 2.10.00s target by 6s.
Rosemary Arthur in action
The International University Sports Federation (FISU) is responsible for the organization and governance of worldwide sports competitions for student-athletes and has been the key driver to expand the role and reach of university sport around the world since its formation in 1949. It is among the world’s largest and most prestigious multi-sports events.
The games are organised biennially in a different city, and the most recent was in Naples, Italy. The 2021 Summer World University Games were scheduled to be held in Chengdu, China, but due to the COVID-19 pandemic has been postponed three times and will now be held in 2023, after the 2023 Summer World University Games, set to be held in Yekaterinburg, Russia, were postponed after the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine.
Participation in the games are based on qualification standards that are revised for each meet and selection based on athletes’ current performance.