Jiu Jitsu Federation popularises sport
The President of the Ghana Jiu Jitsu Federation, Mr Maxwell Borquaye, says the federation has already begun its regional tour to recruit athletes across the country ahead of its maiden championship in May, dubbed “Submission only” at the Accra Sports Stadium in May.
According to the President, the federation has so far pencilled 40 new athletes to be trained and will strive to make the sport known across the country.
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Jiu Jitsu sport, which is a martial art sport similar to judo, first started at a battlefield at Sumarai in Japan, and has now spread across the world.
It has different categories which include Adapted Jiu-Jitsu eligibility which determines an athlete’s disability before partaking in the sport.
Mr Borquaye, in an interview with the Daily Graphic, reiterated the ambition of the federation to make the new body in Ghana recognised on the world stage, disclosing that Ghana’s athletes were set to compete in an African championship slated for April 3 to 7, in Morocco and a world championship in November in the USA.
“We have began recruiting fighters through our regional tours. Last Sunday we were at Nsawam and we were able to recruit 40 fighters.
We will continue to Takoradi, Cape Coast and then Kumasi. We want to recruit as many as we can for the maiden championship in May at the Baba Yara stadium, so through that we will select fighters for the national team to represent us in international championships,” he said.
“We are looking to getting recognised on the world stage and win a lot of medals because this sport comes with medals.
We have qualified to participate in a championship in Morocco in April but if we are not able to get enough support or sponsorships in time for it, we would have to miss out on that one and focus on our local championship in May, which we would use to select the national team and prepare them for the World championship in November in the USA,” he added.
In conclusion, the President appealed to state agencies and private organisations to come on board and support the federation to prepare for the forthcoming major championship this year.
