World Athletics Championship: It’s over for Janet Amponsah
Ghana bid farewell to the World Athletics Championship underway in Moscow, after Janet Amponsah failed to go past the heats in the women’s 200m event.
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Amponsah, the nation’s sole representative at the global event, finished in seventh position in Heats 1 yesterday morning with a time of 24.07 seconds.
American Kimberlyn Duncan emerged winner with a time of 22.88s, Johanna Danois of France (23.00 sec) and Hanna-Maari Latvala of Finland (23.07s) finished in the top three and also qualified automatically for the semis.
Gloria Hooper of Italy (23.10s), Brazilian Ana Claudia Silva (23.31s) and Moa Hjelmer of Sweden (23.33s) followed in that order.
The poor finish by the young police officer ends Ghana’s campaign at the championship that climaxes on Sunday in the Russian capital.
Meanwhile, the General Secretary of the Ghana Athletics Association, Fuseini Bawa, says Amponsah’s performance in Moscow yesterday was a reflection of her preparation for the competition.
"Janet did exactly what she could under the circumstance. For someone competing at the highest athletics meet to have done all her preparation in Kumasi, she could not have done any better,” Mr Bawa told GNA Sport.
"To compete at that level with such high-profile athletes demanded better preparation, several tours and competitions to boost her confidence and also to improve her time, readiness and the like. But she had to make do with training in Kumasi and that was not good enough."
The chief administrator of Ghana athletics added, "At this level, athletes compete for their various countries and their preparations, care and readiness for such championships transcend an association and that is something people sadly overlook.
"There is a limit to what the Ghana Athletics Association can do and it is not pleasant when that reality fails to be appreciated by people. Janet has prospects, but there is so much she can do given the circumstance."
Source: GNA