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Bodybuilding of Wednesday, 5 March 2014

Source: Sammy Heywood Okine

Juliana Arkoh wants more weightlifting competition

Sports Writers Association of Ghana (SWAG) Sports Personality of the year nominee and Weightlifter of the year 2013, Juliana Arkoh believes if she get more competitions she would be better.

Speaking to yours truly at the 2nd Greater Accra Sports Directorate Awards ceremony held at the Accra Sports Stadium Media Center on Tuesday March 4, 2014, she said lack of challenge and competition makes the sport very dull.

She said sports is about competition so wants she wants more weightlifting competitions and urged the media to support sports by promoting all the sports and not some oj the sports.

Juliana Arkoh was nominated for the prestigious SWAG award following her remarkable performance at the African Championships held in Morocco last year.

She said the recognition by SWAG has made her feel very proud, respected and honoured.

The Accra Poly second year Secretarial and Management student hinted that sports have made her popular and feels great. She experienced basic education at the Bright Mission Grammer School and the Prestige Gateway Academy with the hope of becoming a very important figure in Ghana, not knowing her dream will come into reality so soon.

She recalled being invited by national coach Madjety Fetri if she the interest in lifting weights, and has never gone back but combinhg education and sports.

The 16 year old international weighlifter began the sport in 2010 with the inspiration and motivation of the coach. Her first assignment was in Kenya where she placed 8th in an Olympic Qualifier to London 2012, then in 2013, when the national team, the Black Cranes went to Morocco she grabbed six silver and two bronze medals totally eight medals. She hopes to win more luerels in the coming years.

Currently, her focus is on the up coming Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland and the next Olympic Games in Brazil dubbed Rio 2016.

She urged companies and individuals who love spprts and want the nation to succeed in sports to contribute to the promotion of sports in general.

Her idol is Serena Williams, the American Tennis Queen.