The Board Chairman of the Kumasi Asante Kotoko, Dr Kofi Konadu Sarpong has said that physical exercise can lead to improved academic performance and establishment of life long healthy physical habits. Dr Sarpong said “it is therefore important that students understand the benefits of sports to their health and academic life and for them to embrace physical activity wholeheartedly”. The Board Chairman was speaking at the opening of the 2011 Ashanti Regional Inter-Senior High Schools (SHSs) zonal/super-zonal athletics competition at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium, Kumasi. Opoku Ware Senior School emerged winners in the 19 events competed for in track and field when they bagged 168 points followed by Anglican SHS with 82 points, Effiduase SHS 77, Collins SHS 61 and Simms SHS 57 in that order to qualify for the Super Zonal in the Boys division. In the Girls events, Dadiese Agric. SHS came first with 136 points, followed by Effiduase and Akumadan with 74 points at par, the fourth position was taken by Saint Louis SHS with 61 points and Anglican SHS and Bekwai SDA SHS placing fifth with 56 points each also qualifying from the Zonals. The two-day Zone Three Athletics meet organized by the Ashanti Region Schools and Colleges Sports Federation, afforded the physical instructors with the opportunity to evaluate practical teaching of physical education and also enabled sports organizers to unearth young talents. Dr Sarpong noted that such engagements does not only help to promote healthy and competitive rivalries amongst participating teams but in the long run becomes the basis for building good sportsmanship, comeradeship and discipline which in the long term deters the incidence of hooliganism in sports. The Board Chairman underscored the importance of exhibiting maturity, fair-play and good sporting behavior during the meet not only by the participating athletes and schools but also the officials. Adventist Girls SHS were adjudged the best behaved school at the end of the competition. Source: GNA