Ghana's national badminton team, the Golden Shuttlers, has won the bronze medal in the Mixed Team Relay at the 2026 All-Africa U-19 Badminton Championships held in Cairo, Egypt. The team, comprising Francis Obeng-Shang, Obabompa Adu Mintah, Samuel Amasah, Racheal Quarcoo, Moslena Ama Korama Adu, Margaret Sarpei, and Alana Faith Sullo, was the defending champion. They had previously defeated host nation Egypt 2-0 in the quarter-finals.
The Golden Shuttlers' semi-final match against Algeria was closely contested. Algeria won the first game 55-46, putting Ghana under early pressure. However, the Ghanaian team regained their composure and won the second game 55-48, forcing the match into a play-off. The Algerians, buoyed by home crowd support, established an early 44-33 lead in the decisive game.
Despite the deficit, the Ghanaians fought back strongly, reducing the gap as the game neared its conclusion. Both teams were locked at 54 points apiece, with only one point needed to seal victory. Ultimately, a serve from star player Obeng-Shang went off court, securing victory for Algeria and relegating Ghana to the bronze medal.
The Golden Shuttlers' coach and players had high hopes of defending their title, but they were unable to overcome the Algerian team. Ghana will now focus on the men's singles, women's singles, mixed doubles, men's doubles, and women's doubles events to accumulate points for the African rankings and the 2028 LA Olympic Games.
In addition to the All-Africa U-19 Badminton Championships, the Ghanaian team will also participate in the global BWF World Junior Championships, scheduled to take place in Cairo from October 5-17. The team's performance in these tournaments will contribute to their Olympic qualification and ranking.
The Ghanaian Times reported that the Golden Shuttlers' loss in the semi-finals was a significant setback, but the team remains determined to achieve success in the remaining events. According to Raymond Ackumey, the team's focus now shifts to individual and doubles events.
The Golden Shuttlers' bronze medal win is a notable achievement, and the team will look to build on this success in future tournaments. The 2026 All-Africa U-19 Badminton Championships have provided valuable experience for the Ghanaian players, who will aim to improve their skills and rankings in the coming months.
Key points
- Ghana's Golden Shuttlers won the bronze medal in the Mixed Team Relay at the 2026 All-Africa U-19 Badminton Championships.
- The team lost to Algeria in the semi-finals, with the decisive game ending 55-54 in favor of the Algerians.
- Ghana will now focus on individual and doubles events at the championships to accumulate points for the African rankings and the 2028 LA Olympic Games.
