Ghana’s national 100m record holder Benjamin Azamati is hopeful the 4x100m quartet who will represent the nation have an opportunity to win a medal at the forthcoming Olympics Games.
Team Ghana qualified for the 4x100m event for a second Olympics running after securing their place in the World Relays meet in Bahamas, albeit in nerve wracking circumstances.
A drop of the baton on day one meant that the team needed a second and crucial day to advance to the summer’s Games.
The quartet of Azamati, Joseph Paul Amoah, Ibrahim Fuseini and Isaac Botsio ran a season’s best of 38.29s to punch a ticket to Paris.
In an exclusive interview with Univers sports, Azamati revealed he is up beat of the team’s chances in medaling at the Olympics
I believe it. And that is if we assemble the right team and the right guys to run, I believe we can medal for sure. If the coach is able to put together the right guys, assemble the right team, we will be able to run fast, and it can be able to put us on the podium, he said
You saw what we did in Oregon in 2020, when we had the right guys. So putting together those guys, including Rasheed himself, I think we will be able to be on the podium, he added.
Ghana’s 4x100m quartet have clocked varying times this season, with 38.43s to finish silver medalist at the African Games, 39.71s at the Penns Relays, 38.29s at the World Relays, and 39.16s at the just-ended African Senior Championships.
The scope of the team who will represent Ghana is yet unknown, but the former University of Ghana student will be astounded if he fails to make the cut.
I believe we should have a reserve. Normally, we take about six or five athletes, so I believe we should have a reserve. For now, I don’t know the coach who will go with us. I don’t know who the reserves are going to be, whoever is on the team.
I don’t think that has been finalized yet, I think we will know if we are about to leave. I have no ideas about the six or five athletes going, including myself. I’ll be surprised [if I don’t make the team]. I think it’s based on performances this season and I have to be the second Ghanaian after Rasheed, so I have to be surprised if I’m not on the team.
Ghana is yet to win a medal in athletics, with the country’s previous medals coming from boxing and football. The track and field event commences on August 1, 2024.
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Story by: Andrews Sefa Bamfo| univers.ug.edu.gh
