Prince Dornu-Leiku
Ghana’s Golden Shuttlers have received a warm reception from key sports stakeholders following their impressive five-medal return from competitions in Cairo, Egypt, with promises of support to sustain the growth of badminton.
The seven-member junior team who arrived back home last Friday and officials of the Ghana Badminton Association (BAG), led by President Evans Yeboah, paid courtesy calls on Ghana Olympic Committee (GOC) President Richard Kofi Akpokavie, Ghana Sports Fund Administrator Dr David Kofi Wuaku and Sports Writers Association of Ghana (SWAG) President Kwabena Yeboah.
The team won four medals at the All-Africa Under-19 Championships — one silver and three bronze — before securing the gold Team Cheers Award in the 2026 BWF World Junior Championships, becoming the first African country to win the accolade.
Mr Akpokavie congratulated the players and urged them to set their sights on senior-level success, while promising to explore opportunities for specialised training in badminton powerhouses such as China, Indonesia, India and Malaysia.
“This is only the U-19 stage, you must be aiming at senior level,” he advised, stressing that education and sport should complement each other in shaping their futures.
Dr Wuaku challenged BAG to translate the team’s promise into a sustainable development programme through practical, costed proposals covering junior development, equipment, coaching and international exposure.
“Talent alone does not win championships; it must be backed by investment, opportunity and the right structures,” he said, assuring the association that proposals would be considered within the Fund’s mandate and available resources.
SWAG chief Kwabena Yeboah praised the players for excelling despite limited support and pledged the sports media’s commitment to telling their stories.
“You made us proud with the little support you receive, you put smiles on our faces,” he said, urging the players to maintain their discipline, commitment and dedication.
BAG president Evans Yeboah expressed appreciation for the stakeholders’ recognition and support, highlighting the medals, international exposure and opportunities gained by the young players. He said the association would continue working to build a strong system capable of producing champions for generations.
He stressed that the courtesy calls mark the beginning of further engagements with stakeholders, scholarships, media partnerships, Asian training exposure and support for the association’s Mission 2032 ambitions among the priorities.
