Eleven nations have officially confirmed their participation in the forthcoming arm wrestling event slated to be a highlight of the 13th Africa Games in Accra.
The nations set to compete include Ghana, the host country, alongside Benin, Cameroon, the Central African Republic (CAR), Egypt, Madagascar, Mauritius, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, South Africa, and Togo.
This announcement comes through a statement from the Armwrestling Federation of Africa (AFA), signed by its President, Mr. Charles Osei Asibey, as preparations gear up for the event scheduled from March 8 to March 24 in Accra.
“With just a few weeks remaining until the start of the continent’s premier sporting event, Ghana will welcome participants from Benin, Cameroon, the Central African Republic, Egypt, Madagascar, Mauritius, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Togo, and several other countries to compete in arm wrestling,” noted Mr. Asibey.
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Building on the success of the 12th Africa Armwrestling Championship held in June 2023, which also acted as the qualifier for the Africa Games, organizers are anticipating another remarkable event.
Armwrestling, known for its traditional roots, widespread popularity, and accessibility, has gained recognition as a prominent sport on the African continent, thanks to significant investments by the governing body.
The arm wrestling competition at the Africa Games is scheduled to take place at the Cedi Hall, University of Ghana, Legon, from March 13 to March 16.
Mr. Asibey expressed his enthusiasm for the rapid growth of the sport across Africa, acknowledging the collective efforts that have propelled arm wrestling into a competitive sporting discipline within the Africa Games framework.
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He commended the support from the Ghanaian government, the Ministry of Youth and Sports (MoYS), the Local Organizing Committee (LOC), the Association of African Sports Confederations (AASC), and the Africa Union Sports Council (AUSC), assuring stakeholders of meticulous preparations to provide athletes, officials, and spectators with a welcoming environment and exceptional sporting displays during the games.
“Our vision is to position arm wrestling as the sport of choice by fostering participation and driving development across the continent. We are steadfast in our mission as we prepare to make history once again at the Africa Games,” remarked Mr. Asibey.
Competitors will compete across various weight categories, including 55kg, 60kg, 65kg, 75kg, 85kg, 90kg, 100kg, and +100kg for men, and 55kg, 60kg, 65kg, 70kg, 80kg, and +80kg for women.