By Simon Asare, GNA Special Correspondent to Scotland
Glasgow, (Scotland), July 25, GNA – Ghana’s search for medals at the 2026 Commonwealth Games got off to a slow start on Friday, but a national record by swimmer Abeiku Jackson provided a bright spot on the second day of competition in Glasgow.
Jackson, one of Ghana’s leading swimmers, opened the country’s campaign by setting a new national record in the men’s 50m backstroke, clocking 26.48 seconds in the heats.
The 26-year-old bettered the previous national mark of 26.84 seconds set by Jason Arthur at the 2019 FINA World Championships in Gwangju, South Korea.
His time also surpassed his personal best of 26.97 seconds recorded at the 2023 African Games in Accra.
Jackson finished seventh in his heat and did not advance to the next stage of the competition.
Fellow Ghanaian swimmer Nubia Adjei also exited in the heats after placing eighth in the women’s 50m butterfly in a time of 30.02 seconds.
In boxing, two-time Commonwealth Games medallist Abdul Wahid Omar suffered an early exit after a unanimous 5-0 defeat to England’s Patris Mughalzai in the men’s 65kg round of 32 contest.
Omar, who won bronze at the Glasgow 2014 Games, was unable to match the English fighter and lost all three rounds at the SEC Centre.
Ghana also endured a setback in para powerlifting as Tahiru Haruna narrowly missed out on a podium finish in the men’s competition.
Haruna placed fifth with a total of 112.0 points. His successful second lift of 212kg proved his best effort, while his first and third attempts were unsuccessful.
Despite the setbacks in boxing and para powerlifting, Ghana remains hopeful of securing medals as swimmers take centre stage on day three of the 2026 Commonwealth Games.
GNA
Edited by Kenneth Odeng Adade
Reporter: Simon Asare
Email: [email protected]