Ghana's Akwasi Frimpong is seeking financial assistance to help him participate in the winter Olympics in Beijing, China 2022.
Frimpong said if any of the sporting associations in the country can support him to engage a coach who can help him train hard to qualify for the tournament in China to lift the flag of Ghana high.
Frimpong took part twice in the qualified for the finals of the International Bobsleigh and Skeleton Federation Pyeongchang InterContinental Cup held last week in Pyeongchang in South Korea.
Skeleton is a winter sliding sport in which a person rides a small sled, known as a skeleton bobsled (or-sleigh), down a frozen track while lying face down and head-first.
The 2018 Sports Writers Association of Ghana (SWAG) award winner finished 19th and 20th in two competitions out of 24 athletes. He beat participants from Netherland, Luxembourg, and New Zealand.
Ghanaian International who bases in Netherland told Graphic sports he is proud of what he has accomplished , but there is still so much to work ahead of him before the 2022 Olympics. He also wishes to get the support he needs to have a sliding coach to make bigger strides for Ghana.
"Qualifying for the Olympics is going to be extremely difficult if I don't have a sliding coach and the resources of the country. I trust something good happens. I just have to keep working hard and stay relentless and positive".
"If I get the support of the National Sports Authority (NSA), Ghana Olympics Committee (GOC), and the Ministry of Youth and Sports(MOYS), I can do better. " The new Olympics qualification standard for skeleton for Beijing 2022 doesn't have a continental spot for Africa like the previous outing. Therefore, I need to qualify in the same way as big nations. I can achieve this with the rightful support from the appropriate quarters" he noted.
The 33-year old Ghanaian - born Dutch said he was grateful to some companies for keeping faith in him. The 2018 winter Olympian is currently ranked 76th out of 150 skeleton athletes in the world and he says he can still do better.
Akwasi Frimpong, Ghana's first ever Winter Olympian is here in the country to introduce the youth to the sport of Bobsled and Skeleton. pic.twitter.com/BrHH6lnsVq
— Pulse Ghana Sports (@PulseSportsGh) July 29, 2017
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— BBC 5 Live Sport (@5liveSport) February 16, 2018
"Being an Olympian is the best feeling ever. It's about chasing the unknown and keeps you humble. I have fulfilled my dream."@dotunadebayo and @ellyoldroyd chat to Ghana's history-making Akwasi Frimpong as he finishes his #PyeongChang2018 Skeleton campaign. pic.twitter.com/Ai11Gg6BFu
