Badminton coach optimistic

Coach Shamo- head coach of the badminton team

Head coach of the national senior badminton team, Frank Shamo, is optimistic his team’s performance at this year’s All Africa Seniors Badminton Championships in Mauritius will mark an improvement over their quarter finals showing at the 2011 championships held in Ethiopia.

Ghana joined the rest of Africa for the bi-annual championships from August 14-20 and coach Shamo who flew out of the country together with his assistant Jacob E. Wilson and a team of five players, made up of three males for tournament, believes they have what it takes to bring back medals from this year’s championships.

Daniel Sam, Emmanuel Donkor and Abraham Ayittey will be defending the flag of Ghana in the male division while the good old Stella Amasah and Evelyn Botwe battle for honours in the female division.

In a chat with the Times Sports before the team’s departure on Tuesday night, the celebrated coach said the experience gained from past championships will come in handy for his players in competition.
The team will compete in the men and women singles and doubles, as well as mixed doubles.

While in Mauritius the team will also have the opportunity to participate in the Yonex Mauritius International Badminton championship, a Badminton World Federation (BWF) sanctioned future series event from August 21-24.

Ghana’s participation in the championships would consolidate the implementation of the Badminton World Federation (BWF) Schools project dubbed "Shuttle Time" in the country to develop the sport from grassroots with equipment assistance from the BWF.

Team Ghana was led by BAG President, Mr. Nestor Galley, who doubles as a Council Member of the BCA. The team is expected back in Ghana on Monday, August 26, 2013.