It’s almost the same story with how many people became boxers until one of Ghana’s 2014 Commonwealth medalists shared his story.
With him having a chance to qualify to the Tokyo Olympic games in Japan, Abdul Wahid Omar remains a member of the Black Bombers teams and has been at every training session at the Bukom Boxing Arena since.
Boxing Ghana chanced on him after his training where he shared a bit about himself as the world only know his for his priors.
“I started my boxing at the age of 11years after realizing it was the only legal way to fight and gains accolades. I was one of those boys you would call stubborn because I wouldn’t let you walk over me nor claim superiority over.’
“I had a cousin who was a boxer named Abib Ahmed who would always ask me to follow him to the gym holding his trainers and others, he looked at me one day and told me one day I would be standing in the ring but did not believe him until I started skipping school for the gym.”
“I got noticed and joined the Ghana national boxing team as an amateur boxer and has since been with the Black Bombers. I represented Ghana at the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Scotland where I picked up a bronze medal for Ghana. It was one of the happiest days of my life as I happen to be the only Ghanaian to pick a laurel.”
“I further picked a bronze medal at the African qualifiers in 2016 and its been a quiet since.”
With many boxers, the problem they encounter has got to do with support and sponsorship, Wahid like every other boxers have had their own share of this drawback as money has been the challenge in his career although he hasn’t turned professional yet.
Wahid continued “my focus now is to on gaining qualification to the Japan Olympics through rankings after the European games and am confident I will have that opening. I have been to the biggest stage in the games and am sure I have a good chance as my teammates in bringing home medals for Ghana.”
After his words, Wahid felt they had been left out in many ways as a sporting team as his bronze medal won in Scotland 7years ago has still not been settled but believes the current Sports Minister would ensure all such matters are addressed with time.
While been asked what advice Wahid Abdul Omar would give to people who would love to practice the sport, he said, “I would advice people not to follow the sport with money on their mind but for the love of the game, once you are determined enough to take boxing as a game, the money will continue with ease.”
Photo Credit: 29BoxingStudio/De Messenger
Source: BoxinGhana
I am a young and vibrant sports journalist from Ghana, a member of the Sports Writers’ Association of Ghana(SWAG), and working with Sports Preview Ghana and sports reporting outfit poised to bring all the latest and trending sports news around the globe.
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