– K Juman Yassin
The Guyana Olympic Association (GOA) has already started planning for the XIX Commonwealth Games in New Delhi, India between October 3 and 14, according to president K Juman Yassin.
Yassin reported yesterday that the process started with the dispatching of letters to the various sporting associations. In this letter, associations are asked to shortlist athletes for the Games, which will be held for the first time in India, and to justify their selection.
At the moment Yassin said that Guyana’s contingent at the Games should be around 50 persons, inclusive of the national Sevens Rugby team.
He noted, however, that much cannot be said at this time since the GOA executive will be meeting later in the week to further discuss plans for the upcoming Games.
Yassin is hopeful that all plans will bear fruit for the local teams that will be going to India, where the country will be hosting its largest multi-sport event since it hosted the Asian Games in 1951 and 1982. Yassin also stated that he will not be commenting on government’s support or lack thereof to the GOA but he is hopeful that it will come onboard.
When Stabroek Sport made contact with the president of the Guyana Amateur Boxing Association (GABA) Steve Ninvalle he said that plans will immediately go on stream for the boxers after resting from the CAC Games in Puerto Rico. He said that the contingent for the Commonwealth Games will not be as big as the CAC Games.
Ninvalle, who was pleased with the performance of the team that returned with two bronze medals from the CAC championships despite their numerous challenges, stated that he is waiting on the CAC report from the team manager and GABA vice president Maurice Rajkumar so that the association can effectively plan for the Commonwealth Games.
However, he was confident based on the verbal report that was given to him, that the local contingent has learned a lot in Puerto Rico and it will reflect in the team’s preparation for the Games in October.
From all indications, there will be a focus on improving nutrition for the boxers and other aspects that may benefit the Simon Pures.
Ninvalle projected that the boxers, whoever they may be, will be leaving Guyana more prepared than the team that went to Puerto Rico last month. Further, he was told that while their low medal haul in Puerto Rico does not reflect their performance, he pointed out that the association will be working hard to improve on the results in India.
When president of the Guyana Rugby Football Union (GRFU) Christopher ‘Kit’ Nascimento was contacted he said that he was out of town and could not have made a comment. But when Stabroek Sport made contact with the general secretary of the GRFU, Curtis Jacobs he emphasised the association’s need “to get in full flight” to get corporate support for the Sevens team.
Jacobs noted that this is even more imperative since the CAC champions need the requisite exposure if they are to win at the highest level. Jacobs indicated that all the plans for the association will be made known later but there are many arrangements in store to get the team to India in October.
The opening ceremony for the Games is scheduled to take place at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in New Delhi.
