The Ghana Arm-wrestling Federation (GAF) has launched the second edition of the HD+ kids’ arm-wrestling competition.
Titled the ‘HD+ kids arm-wrestling Season II’, this year’s event will travel to six regions of the country, notably the Bono, Eastern, Western, Ashanti and Greater Accra regions.
According to organizers, a sixth region will soon be announced to host the final edition that will see winners at the regional qualifiers converge for top honours.
The National Sports Authority (NSA) Board Chairman, Mr. Seth Panwun, challenged the GAF to give the competition a national dimension to befit its role as “a sport of choice” when he officially launched the event yesterday at the Executive Boardroom, GNAT Hall. For the second consecutive year, GAF and HD+ are working together to organize the 600-person event.
Announcing the package for the season II, Mrs Adelaide Abbiw-Williams, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of SES HD+Ghana Limited said the change in the scope of the competition has led to an increase in the prize money. She said an amount of GhȻ600,000 has been earmarked for prizes with the winner expected to receive a cash prize of GhȻ3,000.00.
Mr Charles Osei Asibey, President of GAF said the purpose of the competition was to engage the youth and raise future champion that would hold high the flag of Ghana on international platforms.
He announced the establishment of an academy of arm-wrestling pullers where over 40 pullers, mostly athletes that excelled in the previous edition, were trained. He said pullers that graduated last year would not be allowed to participate in the new edition.
The Vice President of GAF, Mr Kofi Addo-Agyekum said the competition was intended to maximize the talent of the youth, build a competitive spirit in them and maximize their talents.
The event was attended by top sports personalities including Mr Mawuko Afadzinu, Vice President of the Ghana Olympic Committee (GOC), and Abdul Majeed Bawa, Deputy Director General of the National Sports Authority (NSA) among others The competition will kick-start with the Bono region edition on April 29.
