By Alex Osei-Boateng
ACCRA, July 27 (Xinhua) -- The ninth edition of the Africa Armwrestling Championship officially kicked off in Ghana's capital, Accra, on Friday.
Over 100 athletes from six countries are taking part in the three-day competition.
The event has the potential to foster friendship among Africans and also accelerate the integration of the continent.
Armwrestling is regarded as one of the oldest, less expensive and easy to play sports globally.
It is relatively new in Africa and barely three years old in Ghana.
However, the sport is noted to be the fastest growing in Africa and incidentally in Ghana.
Armwrestling involves two participants. Each places one arm on a surface with their elbows bent and touching the surface while they grip each other's hand. The goal is to pin the other's arm onto the surface, with the winner's arm over the loser's.
The Technical Advisor to Ghana's Sports Minister, Emmanuel Owusu-Ansah, urged leaders of the African Armwrestling Federation, to double their efforts to spread the sport all over the continent.
"I am saying this because from what I am witnessing here, I am convinced that when the legs have not been able to carry us to the promised land, arms in armwrestling can get Africa out of poverty and lift Africa to the level of freedom and prosperity," he said.
He said armwrestling was symbolic and indeed synonymous with the act of establishing friendship between two competing athletes.
Owusu-Ansah said, traditionally, handshake was invitation to become friends, adding: "But in armwrestling, you only want to show your friend where power lies while at the same time extending a hand of friendship."
The vice president of the Ghana Armwrestling Federation, Kofi Addo Agyekum, lauded organizers of the event for creating the opportunity for competitors to make their dreams come true.
Nigeria hosted the previous edition in which Ghana won 22 medals. Enditem
