ADDIS ABABA – The Ethiopian young athletes enjoyed sweeping victories at the 12th All African Games that was closed on Saturday. The Ethiopian contingent finished ninth with a total tally of 23 medals of which six are gold, five silver and 12 bronze medals.
Athletics take the lion share in the Ethiopian medal lest: Five gold medals, five silver and eight bronze. In total Ethiopia earned 18 medals in athletics. Ethiopia stood second behind Nigeria in athletics.
In the last 12 All Africa Games Egypt and Nigeria the top two countries in the collection of medals.
The gold medal rush began for Ethiopia on day two, courtesy of Hirut Meshesha at a time of 2: 03.16 who upstaged home favourite Rababe Arafi in the 800m to claim her first senior continental title.
Jemal Yimer Mekonnen was tipped to win the men’s 10,000m but teammate Berehanu Tsegu dominated the race and won in 27: 56.81.
The rush for gold continued the next day when Mekdes Abebe brought gold in women’s hurdle.
In the first day athletics contest Arayat Dibo earned bronze medal in high jump in women’s event while Hawi Feyisa in 5,000 meters while in men’s 3,000m hurdle Getnet Wale brought in bronze medal to the country.
The women’s talent awent up to gain a sweeping victory in 10,000 meters. Tsehay Gemechu emerged first at 31 minutes and 56.92 second while Zeyneba Yimer took the second place clocking 31: 57.95. Dera Dadi won the third place at 31: 58.78 seconds.
Once again the Ethiopian women’s athletes enjoyed another sweeping victory at the 12th All Africa Games in half marathon in Morocco.
Athlete Yalemzer Yehala came out first at a time of one hour ten minutes and 26 seconds leaving behind her compatriots Degitu Azmeraw clocking 1:10.31 and Meseret Belete at 1:12. 08 to take the second and third places, in the order of that.
The 12th All Africa Games brought together six thousand athletes from 54 countries. The Ethiopian contingent had 188 athletes who competed in 13 events: World Taekwondo, athletics, tennis, table tennis, box, gymnastics, badminton, swimming, weight lifting, chess, basketball and karate.
The country’s athletics governing body, the Ethiopian Athletics Federation, EAF, Acting President Derartu Tulu said that this is a great victory in All Africa Games half marathon race. “We are hopeful to get young and competent athletes for the countries future. Today our athletes made history. We will go ahead with this tempo,” Derartu said.
The national team collected a record tally of 22 medals of which 7 gold, 5 silver and 10 bronze medals in Brazzaville in 2015. With this result the country succeeded in smashing the previous All Africa Games record of 6 gold medals. The current result is short of on gold medal compared to the 2015.
The 11th edition was also the 50th anniversary of the first edition of the games, which was hosted in Brazzaville.
Morocco was selected to replace Malabo, Equatorial Guinea as the host of the 2019 edition in July 2018. This was the first time that the All African Games to be hosted in Morocco following the country’s readmission to the African Union.
Malabao, Equatorial Guinea was initially chosen to organize the 2019 African Games at the Second Ordinary Session of the Special Technical Committee on Youth, Culture and Sports, which was held at the headquarters of the African Union in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, from 13 to 17 June 2016.
The 12th edition served as a qualification round to the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games. This is the first time for the All African Games to serve as Olympic qualifiers in the games 54 year’s history.
The African Games, also known as the All-Africa Games or the Pan African Games, and popularly known as the “African Olympics”, is a major continental multi-sport event for athletes from nations of Africa, officially recognized by the International Olympic Committee, and held every four years.
The 1st All-Africa Games – Brazzaville 1965 was a multisport event played from July 18-25, 1965, in Brazzaville, Congo.
The Ethiopian Herald September 3, 2019
BY SOLOMON BEKELE
