Surgery for appendicitis on Tuesday has ruled national powerlifter Paul Adams out of competition and training for the next six months.
Adams, 24, the national 67.5kg weight class champion, will miss the fifth International Powerlifting Federation (IPF)/North American Powerlifting Federation (NAPF) Caribbean Islands Bench Press and Powerlifting Championships in Cayman Islands from March 15-19. He told Stabroek Sport that he was discharged yesterday and was advised to stay away from lifting heavy weights.
He revealed that he has received internal and external stitches and it is important for the healing process to begin without the rigours of the sport. Adams, who would have been making his regional debut, is optimistic about returning for the senior championships in November.
Before his surgery Adams was aiming to lift 1350 pounds in total, which would have guaranteed records at the fifth IPF/NAPF Caribbean Islands Bench Press and Powerlifting Championships. His focus was to perfect a squat of 523lbs, bench press 314.5lbs and dead-lift 500lbs.
He had told Stabroek Sport that he was close to achieving these totals when he powered 485lbs, 297.6lbs and 490.5lbs at the national championships that were held last November at Critchlow Labour College (CLC). Guyana are the defending champions at the Caribbean championships and Adams’ slot is now open for another lifter to fill.
Guyana’s current team reads: Juniors- Vijay Rahim (65kg), Anais Ade Thomas (82.5) and Kenneth Melville (110kg); Men’s Open: Vijay Rahim (56kg), Wazim Imamdeen (60kg), Karel Mars (100 kg), Farouk Abdool (110 kg) and Colin Chesney (125 kg) Randolph Morgan and Dawn Barker (90kg). Coach is John Edwards.
When Stabroek Sport spoke with coach John ‘Big John’ Edwards he said that Adams’ absence from the team will be a big blow especially since “he was on top of his game.” Edwards, who will also be competing at the championships, said that Adams would have been a definite medallist.
The executive of the GAPF also stated that on Sunday a likely replacement will be made at the organisation’s Annual General Meeting at CLC. He was unsure, however, whether the national junior and novices championships will be used as a criterion for the selection of a replacement.
Edwards, commenting on his own form prior to the Caribbean Championships, was optimistic. According to the Caribbean and Pan American champion, training is on target and he will be looking to create some history on February 20.
Edwards will be a guest lifter and will be attempting to become the first Guyanese to break the 800 lbs/362.81kgs squat barrier. Edwards currently has the national squat record of 771.75lbs/350.0kgs.
When he was asked about the rivalry that is developing with national champion Colin ‘Mr Clean’ Chesney he said that he is not worried about it, especially since he is not viewing it as a rivalry. Both men have been pushing for that 800lbs mark but Edwards said that since Chesney had attempted and failed at the national championships last year this will be his time. Chesney’s best official attempt, which was set at the 2010 Senior Championship, is 744.18lbs/337.5kgs.
Also, when this publication spoke with two-time Caribbean best lifter Randolph Morgan he said that he is feeling good and eagerly anticipating the championships in March.
Morgan has been recovering from a leg injury and he will be looking to raise the level since he said that God is on his side.
According to Morgan this will be his last year competing at the regional level since this is the time to pass on the mantle to another lifter. The policeman, who competes in the 82.5 kg weight class, has been the Caribbean championships’ best lifter for the past two years.
