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Ssekyaaya gets wildcard to the London Olympics
Weightlifter Ssekyaaya has undergone a meteoric rise in the last one year. courtersy photo
What you need to know:
The youngster is one of the country’s promising athletes
Kampala
US based weightlifter Charles Ssekyaaya finally made it to the team that will represent Uganda at the London Olympic Games due July 27-August 12.
Ssekyaaya received a wild card from the International Weightlifting Federation (IWF) to compete in his maiden quadrennial games.
In a letter dated June 25, signed by the IWF president Tamas Ajan and general secretary Ma Wenguang, the world governing body informed the Uganda Olympic Committee (UOC) that Ssekyaaya has been given a chance to take part.
Part of it read, “Appreciating your efforts and results achieved by your National Federation on the Qualification Events, we are pleased to inform you that according to the unused quota reallocation policy, we extend the following invitation to your NOC/NF to participate on the London 2012 Olympic Games.”
“And everybody says Amen.” Ssekyaaya, a bronze medalist at the 2008 Youth Commonwealth games in Pune posted on his Facebook wall upon receiving the news.
Last year, the 20-year old travelled to the USA for more training in the Colorado Springs under the Olympic Solidarity scholarship that he attained from the International Olympic Committee (IOC) through the recommendation of the UOC. He won gold at the Africa Olympic weightlifting event in Nairobi, a feat that saw him scoop the March Uspa Sports Personality honour.
In 2010, he won two gold medals at the inaugural Africa Youth Games in Rabat, Morocco. More athletes are expected to join the 15-team contingent from the ongoing 18th Africa Senior Athletics Championships in Porto Novo, Benin.
Uganda will be bidding to win her first Olympic medal since Davis Kamoga’s bronze at the 1996 Games in Atlanta.
