Ghanaian sprinters Benjamin Kwaku-Azamati and Abdul-Rasheed Saminu have only one medal left to chase at this year’s Olympic Games after failing to go past the semi-finals in the individual 100m event.
They will step up for the semi-finals of the 4x100m on Thursday in an event that serves Ghana’s brightest chance of medaling at Paris 2024.
Azamati was the first Ghanaian athlete to step on the tracks at the Stade de France on Saturday when he raced in Heat 1 of the Men’s 100m.
He was second to Kishane Thompson, who became the eventual Silver medalist, to make it to the semis.
Saminu, making his Olympic debut, placed third to join the penultimate race in one of the most followed events at the Olympics.
However, both Ghanaians missed out on a place in the final.
Azamati was the slowest in the first semi-final race, clocking 10.17s. That race was won by eventual Jamaican Oblique Seville.
Saminu, however, did a faster time in his semi-final race despite finishing 7th. He clocked 10.05s.
The two told journalists that they are turning attention to the 4 by 100m relay event.
“Some best people couldn’t make it as they hope for a next time but now we will just move forward for the 4 by 1,” said 22-year-old Saminu.
Azamati, on his part, said: “Saminu and I have had the taste of [the track], we’ve seen the crowd [and] and we’re still pumped up for the relays.
“We have high hopes.”
