4 Para powerlifters for World Cup in Dubai

Four members of the Ghana para powerlifting team left the country last Monday for Dubai to participate in the Fazza Dubai Powerlifting World Cup.

The athletes - Emmanuel Nii Tettey Oku, Tahiru Haruna, Isaac Obeng and Patricia Nyamekye - were accompanied by Coach Prince Nyarko and a media attache, Majeed Eldeen.

They will participate in the 12th edition of the tournament which also serves as the second mandatory qualification event for the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games.

The trip, which was sponsored by the President of the National Paralympic Committee (NPC), Samson Deen and the Ministry of Youth and Sports, is expected to help the para athletes compete for qualification for the next Paralympic Games.

Deen told the Daily Graphic he was highly optimistic the team would make the nation proud by making the qualification mark for the Paralympic Games.

The competition is slated for December 15 to 18 with the world’s top powerlifters in action.

Last season, the event served as the final qualifier for the Tokyo 2020 Paralympics with 300 para powerlifters from 62 nations vying for slots.

China emerged the best team with seven gold, two silver and one bronze, followed by Russia who won three gold, three silver and four bronze, with Egypt coming third with three gold and three silver.