Paris 2024: Why Azamati and Saminu Made Ghanaians Proud Despite Failing To Reach 100m Final
- Ghanaian sprinters Benjamin Azamati and Abdul Rasheed Saminu did not qualify for the 100m final at the Paris Olympics
- Saminu is now expected to make amends as he prepares to compete in the 200m and 4x100m for Ghana at the Olympics
- Azamati will aim to improve his performance as he joins the 4x100m relay team in Paris, with his nation seeking a medal
Ghana's dreams of gold in the 2024 Paris Olympics were dulled when Benjamin Azamati and Abdul-Rasheed Saminu failed to advance from the 100m semi-finals.
The West African nation had been aiming to reach the final in the distance for the first time in 20 years, since Aziz Zakari's appearance in the finals of Athens 2004.
Source: Getty Images
Unfortunately, both competitors fell short on Sunday afternoon, August 4, closing yet another avenue to Olympics glory.
"I am a bit disappointed myself, and I'm sure Benjamin Azamati and Abdul Rasheed Saminu would be both gutted to have missed out reaching the men's 100m final on the ongoing Olympic Games in Paris," Ghanaian journalist Mufatawu Nabila expressed his disappointment to Yen.com.gh.
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Azamati finished ninth in semi-final 1 with a time of 10.17 seconds, while Saminu placed seventh in semi-final 3 with a time of 10.05 seconds, as noted by Citi Sports.
Azamati had earlier secured his semi-final spot by coming second in heat 1, clocking a time of 10.08 seconds to end just behind Jamaica’s Kishane Thompson.
However, the Ghanaian star struggled to replicate that form against strong competitors like Noah Lyles and Oblique Seville.
Despite a strong start, the 26-year-old couldn’t maintain his speed and ended up at the bottom of the standings. Jamaican sprinter Seville won the race in 9.81 seconds, with Lyles finishing second in 9.83 seconds.
Saminu also faced tough competition from seasoned runners such as Thompson, Ferdinand Omanyala of Kenya, and Fred Kerley.
He finished seventh, while Thompson and Kerley secured the top two positions and advanced to the final. Saminu did manage to surpass Omanyala, who finished eighth.
Ghanaians should be proud of Azamati and Saminu
According to Mufatawu, there are positives for Azamati despite not reaching the final.
He said Azamati has shown significant improvement, having advanced to the semi-finals this time after not making it past the heats in Tokyo three years ago.
"These boys [Azamati and Saminu] should be proud of what they have been able to achieve - a semi-final place," he added.
"In Azamati's first Olympic appearance in Tokyo for instance, he did not make it past the preliminary heats as he clocked 10.13s which was not enough to propel him to semis, three years on, he crossed the finish line at 10.08s, to make the semi-final.
"That's a significant improvement, though he could not better the time in the semis as he clocked 10.17s, finishing ninth in his semi-final heat, his output is commendable. It demonstrates his growth and adaptation to the pressures of Olympic competition."
Mufatawu asserted that Saminu could also hold his head high for his impressive performance at the Olympics, especially considering he managed to outpace Africa's fastest man, Omanyala.
"Saminu has been Ghana's fastest man this year. He really showed that he has what it takes to compete on this stage. When he lined up against Marcel Jacobs, the Tokyo Olympics gold medalist in this event, he held his nerves so well.
"He made his debut at the Olympics and advanced to the semi-finals, a remarkable feat for a first-time Olympian. He clocked 10.05 seconds in his semi-final heat, finishing seventh and above Africa's fastest man alive, Omanyala."
How can Ghanaian athletes win Olympics gold?
Mufatawu then outlined what the Ghana Olympic Committee needs to do to help their athletes reach the next level in the next Olympic Games in Los Angeles, USA.
"The challenge for these athletes, however, is the question many of us can't answer. What next? It appears Ghana does not have a deliberate plan for these athletes and it hinders their growth.
"With this invaluable experience gained on the world’s biggest stage, how do they stay up there? Ensuring they have access to top-tier coaching, and the support to compete in as many events as possible will be key to their future success," Muftawu ended.
Azamati and Saminu will now switch their attention to the 4x100m relay, with hopes of reaching the finals and winning a medal for the West African nation.
Yeboah fails to qualify for final
Earlier, Yen.com.gh reported that Rose Yeboah's medal bid at the 2024 Olympics in Paris ended after failing to make the mark during the qualifiers.
The Ghanaian high jumper hit the bar at a height of 1.92m after three attempts, which resulted on her missing out on the next stage of the competition.
Yeboah arrived in Paris after winning gold at the African Games before qualifying for the Olympic Games with a 1.97m jump at the NCAA in Eugene.
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Source: YEN.com.gh
