Ghanaian para-sprinter Hayford Addai says he is determined to return stronger after finishing fifth in the men’s T47 100 metres final at the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games.
Although the 17-year-old missed out on a place on the podium, he produced the fastest race of his career, clocking 10.99 seconds to set a new personal best and become the first Ghanaian T47 athlete to officially run the event in under 11 seconds.
The race was won by India’s Dilip Mahadu Gavit, with fellow Indian Mohammed Basil Morssinganakath taking silver. England’s Kevin Santos completed the podium with bronze.
Addai admitted he had hoped to win a medal but said the competition had given him valuable experience.
“Every athlete wants to stand on the podium, so naturally I’m disappointed,” he said after the race. “At the same time, competing against some of the best athletes in the world has motivated me to work even harder.”
The Konongo SHS student said breaking the 11-second barrier marked an important milestone in his development and has strengthened his confidence ahead of future international competitions.
His immediate focus, he explained, is to secure qualification for the World Para Athletics Championships before turning his attention to the Los Angeles 2028 Paralympic Games, where he hopes to challenge for medals.
Earlier this year, Addai claimed gold medals at the World Para Athletics Grand Prix events in Dubai and Rabat, performances that established him as one of Ghana’s rising stars in para-athletics.
He also expressed gratitude to National Paralympic Committee (NPC) Ghana President Samson Deen for supporting his progress, promising to continue working hard to achieve greater success for the country.
The National Paralympic Committee Ghana described Addai’s sub-11-second performance as another significant achievement for Ghanaian para-athletics, despite the teenager narrowly missing out on a medal in Glasgow.
