One of Ghana’s most prominent Universities, Kumasi Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, hosted the multi-sport event from 4 to November 19 2022 where badminton talents from eight Ghanaian universities got to compete in team and individual events of the Ghana University Games (GUSA). Growing the sport in an upward growth of thirty per cent more universities taking part in the Sports at the GUSA Games compared to the last held Edition in Accra. Badminton sport awards 18 different categories of gold, silver, and bronze medals at all Multi Sports Competitions.
The 27th Edition of the GUSA Games was back because of the COVID-19 outbreak and its subsequent rescheduling. The major university multi-sport event, organized by GUSA, fielded the most active racket sport at the University Games. The University of Ghana, Accra, hosted the last university sports event.
Eight noble public Universities took part in the Games, with Universities like the University of Professional Studies, Accra (UPSA), the University of Ghana (UG), Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), University of Education, Winneba.
(UEW), Akenten Appiah-Menka University of Skills Training and Entrepreneurial Development (AMMUSTED), the University of Business and Integrated Development Studies (UBIDS), WA, the University of Cape Coast (UCC) and the University of Development Studies (UDS). These Universities took part in the Mix Team and Individual Events, with UEW topping the medal table with 6 Gold, 3 Silver and one bronze, whilst KNUST placed second place with 2 Silver medals, UG placed third with 1 Silver and four bronze whilst UCC was placed fourth with one bronze medal. AMMUSTED, UDS, UBIS and UPSA will look towards winning an award in the next edition, rekindling the success of fledgling players in the Competition.
Badminton, a crucial part of the GUSA Games event since the ’80s
As the Governing Body of Badminton in Ghana and representing every member of the Badminton Community in Ghana, we provided a well-organized officiating, governed, compliant, and inclusive global sport towards the Games.
With 23 National Accredited Technical Officials at the Games, GUSA and Ghana Badminton have worked closely for years, having been official partners since the late 80s, Participants, stakeholders and shared interest groups. The KNUST University Community has expressed positive feelings about Badminton being a compulsory sport at the biannual GUSA Games.
GUSA is excited to see Badminton, as always, part of the African University Games recently held in Kenya and the World University Games coming off in Chengdu, China 2023, as one of the core sports on the programme. Badminton was one of the 9 Sports at the GUSA University Games, contributing to the around 1000 students representing 14 Public universities. The Badminton Competition comprised the standard format of Mix team and Individual Events and took place from 7 to November 15, 2022.
KNUST Sports Directorate and Kumasi Technical Institute, an experienced host
The KNUST Sports Directorate and the official venue, KTI School, where academic badminton players compete for the universities they represented, was the sports centre at the KTI Sports Auditorium, a necessary Badminton event centre since the 1970s, where KNUST and GUSA officials remarked as one of the most prominent technical Schools in Kumasi. The over 3000 students watch from the side-lines of the Hall each day chanting and wavering their best and newfound athletes notable for being role models for them. It was fun to watch them playing and supporting the team.
An unforgettable experience
With 31% of participating student-athletes have come from our Badminton in the Schools Project-a project launched in 2018 to unearth and support the growth of sports in Schools across the country and currently covering 72% of all school population in Ghana. The national federation was excited to see the centre of excellence stars from “not too popular” Universities exhibit a can-do spirit leading to a lot of learning and aspiration with fond memories of the event in Kumasi.
Want to learn more about the 2022 GUSA University Games? Then click here.
Credit: Ghana Badminton Association
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