Team Table Tennis gain sweet revenge against Jamaica

Ghana’s Table Tennis Team secured a sweet revenge over Jamaica after winning their semi final classification game 3:1 at the ongoing Commonwealth Games at the Scotstoun Campus in Glasgow on Saturday.

Coach Anthony Owusu Ansah’s team missed the chance to qualify to the next stage of the competition after losing their last group game against defending champions Singapore.

Despite placing third with an overall score of three points in their Group, Team Ghana quickly re-grouped to play the classification games, beating Papua New Guinea and Vanuatu, before meeting bogey their side Jamaica.

The Jamaican’s had beaten Ghana in the two previous editions of the Commonwealth Games in Delhi and Melbourne prior to the encounter.

Felix Lartey won his singles event before partnering Derrick Abrefa to win the men’s doubles. Emmanuel Commey put the icing on the cake with another men’s singles victory in a closely fought encounter.

Team Ghana player, Derrick Abrefa could not hide his joy after the game saying, “The Jamaican’s have sat on our happiness for a long time. It was a similar situation to the Ghana vs USA game prior to the 2014 World Cup. I’m glad we have been able to beat them today.”

Head coach of the Table Tennis team, Anthony Owusu Ansah commented about his team’s exploits: “It shows we have made progress. If we have similar pre-Games preparation in the future, then we will do far better. The players have responded very well to the training and we hope to do better.”

Ghana will meet Guyana in the final classification game on Sunday to determine final placements for the 15th and 16th positions respectively.

Team Swimming: National Records fall, new Personal Best
Team Swimming continued their progress at the ongoing Commonwealth Games with two swimmers breaking national records and another setting a new personal best on the third day of competition at the Tollcross International Swimming Centre.
Ophelia Swayne led the honours blazing to a new national record and a personal best 29.66 in the women’s 50m butterfly event.

The country’s number ranked female swimmer erased her own previous mark of 29.86 with her 6th place performance in Heat 3. She placed 31st overall in the event.
Similarly, Abeiku Jackson set a new national record in the men’s 100m freestyle event after placing third in Heat 3 in a time of 56.47 to improve his previous personal best 56.71, which he set at an international competition in Germany about a month ago.

Abeiku’s brother, Abbiw Jackson, also clocked a new personal best 56.87 in the men’s freestyle having entered the competition in a time of 58.98. Abbiw came 4th in his Heat, placing 46th overall.

Another swimmer, Nana Kwabena Antwi placed 37th overall in the men’s 50m backstroke and did not participate in the men’s 100m freestyle event due to medical reasons.

Head coach of the Swimming Team, Abbiw Jackson commented: “I have always said Team Swimming were going to have a good experience at the Commonwealth Games. The times the kids have produced puts them on course for the semi finals of the next Commonwealth Games. I’m most satisfied with their performances.”

Swimming: Women's 50m Butterfly
31 3 (6) Ophelia Swayne Gha 29.66

Swimming: Men's 50m Backstroke
37 1 (5) Nana Kwabena Antwi Gha 33.64

Swimming: Men's 100m Freestyle
44 3 (3) Abeiku Jackson Gha 56.47
46 4 (4) Abbiw Jackson Gha 56.87

Boxing:
Ghana’s Jesse Lartey is through to the round of 16 in the light weight contest (60kg) after gaining an walk-over after Tanzania’s Nassar Mafuru failed to turn up for their bout at the SECC Hall in Glasgow.
The day turned sour when light welterweight Musah Lawson lost narrowly to Canada’s Arthur Biyarslanov in their three round contest after the judges handed a unanimous decision to the Canadian: 10-9, 10-9, 10-09.

Judo:
Ghana’s campaign in the Judo championship at the Commonwealth Games came to an end Victor Ahiavor and Raymond Normeshie lost their respective fights on Saturday.
Ahiavor lost to Cameroun’s Stephane Ombiongno while Normeshie also lost to India’s Sahil Pathania in the -100kg and -90kg preliminary round of 16 respectively.

Preview Day Four:
Ghana will compete in athletics, boxing, swimming and table tennis on day four of the Commonwealth Games.