CWG 2022: Abdul-Rasheed Saminu eager to impress in 200m event
University of Ghana’s track and field athlete, Abdul-Rasheed Saminu is backing himself to step up to the challenge at the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, where he will be representing Ghana in the 200m event on Thursday, August 4.
It will be the first time Saminu, a 100m specialist, will be running the 200m event this season. However, in his first international outing of the event at the 2019 African Junior Championships held in Cote d’Ivoire, Saminu clocked a time of 21.58 – which remains his personal best till date.
It is a time he is looking to improve on this year, and if that is to happen, it will have to be on one of the world’s big stages – the Commonwealth Games, and Saminu is looking forward to leaving it all on the track.
“It’s not going to be easy but I’m well prepared to face it. No matter how it pushes me, I’ll push it back – I’m going to put on my best, so Ghana should just wait for the best to come from me. I want to go out there and do my best, no disappointments,” he told Joy Sports.
The Ghanaian will race in Heat 2 of the event at 11am, alongside Nigeria’s Udodi Chudi Onwuzurike, who boasts of a personal best of 20.08 in the event, and is definitely the name to beat in that Heat. Also lining up alongside Saminu will be Hassan Saaid, a 30-year-old Maldives athlete, with a time of 20.75, but also yet to record a 200m time this season.
Saminu is aware of the challenge on his shoulders, yet refuses to pay it any attention.
“Unless they kill God – that’s my motto. When we get to the finish line and you’ve beaten me, fine – I’m okay, but till we get there or start, you haven’t beaten me yet. I’m just going to put in my best to kill it for Ghana. I love the country,” Saminu added.
Also representing Ghana in the 200m event on Thursday, will be national 200m record holder, Joseph Paul Amoah, who will be in Heat 5.
Source: Ghana News
