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All eyes on Ampomah at Rio 2016 as he competes in javelin today
John Ampomah

All eyes on Ampomah at Rio 2016 as he competes in javelin today

John Ampomah would carry Ghana’s hope alive later Wednesday when he competes in the Javelin after a disappointing campaign at the Olympic Games at Rio de Janeiro in Brazil.

So far, Ghana’s contingent, including Flings Owusu-Agyapong, Abeiku Jackson, Szandra Szogedi, Kaya Forson, Sean Ofusu Antwi and Janet Amponsah have all failed to progress in the competition. 

However, the 26-year-old will be hoping to avoid the fate of nine Ghanaians before him who made first round exits in the competition.

Ampomah, who was the 2015 SWAG male Athlete of the Year, will need to improve his personal best throw of 82.94 metres which landed him silver at the 2015 All Africa Games in Brazzaville if he is to cause an upset for a medal.

Unfortunately, the odds are against the serial national record breaker (broken the national record nine times) who will contend in a field with the likes of African record holder Kenyan Julius Yego (92.72m) and Thomas Rohler who holds the year's world leading 91.28m mark.

Rohler's compatriot, 23-year-old Johannes Vetter is also among the favourites for a medal after throwing a distance of 88.23m last June.

On Tuesday afternoon, sprinter Emmanuel Dasor became the ninth Ghanaian to exit the 2016 Olympic Games when he placed sixth in the 200 metre heats.

The 20-year-old Western Kentucky University student, running in Heat 2, crossed the finish line in 20.65 seconds.

Dasor's heat was won by Spaniard Bruno Hortelano (20.12s), while Jamaican former world champion Yohan Blake (20.13s) placed second. Both athletes progressed to the semi-finals of the competition.

He joined a legion of Ghanaian debutantes at the Rio Games who have also made first round exits.

The athletes who are already out of the running for medals are Janet Amponsah, swimmers Abeiku Jackson and Kaya forson as well as judoka Szandra Szogedi, weightlifter Christian Amoah, Flings Owusu-Agyapong, Sean Safo-Antwi and Alex Amankwah.

Ghana presented a 16-member contingent for the Olympics.

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