The first batch of athletes who will be representing Guyana at this year’s Pan American Games scheduled for July 26 to August 11 in Lima, Peru, departed the country yesterday with dreams of capturing gold in the country with a fabled Incan history.
Guyana will be represented in eight disciplines for the 18th edition of the competition, which fields competitors from nations across the Americas and which is held every four years in the year before the summer Olympic Games.
The athletes and officials from the rugby, squash and boxing disciplines left yesterday from the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall.
Prior to departure, Technical Director of the Rugby Sevens men’s team, Sherlock Sam told the media that the outfit will be looking to smooth out the many wrinkles which were exposed during their disappointing Rugby Americas North (RAN) campaign earlier this month in the Cayman Islands.
“We had a bad outing during the RAN Sevens but we came home and did some work and I am hoping that translates to wins because the Pan Am Games is definitely a higher standard,” said Sam. “I don’t think it’s something we can’t handle so we are hoping that they rise to the occasion and do their best. No battle is too great,” he added.
Rugby action starts in three days with seven other teams namely USA, Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Uruguay and Jamaica participating.
Squash players, Mary Fung-A-Fat, 25, and 26-year-old Ashley Khalil noted that they will be focusing on gaining as much experience as possible since it is the first time they have qualified for the Games which started in 1951. (Nicolette Fernandes earned a bronze medal at the Games in 2011)
“The girls we are playing are in the top 50 and it will be great to see how we measure up against the top class players” said
Fung-A-Fat, who pointed out that anything is possible as she alluded to the fact that 15 year-old Cori Gauff had a major upset against five-time Wimbledon champion Venus Williams at the England event earlier this month.
Fresh off a three-week stint in Cuba, standout bantamweight boxer Keevin Allicock and his coach for the sojourn, Terrence Poole, collectively agreed that the goal in Peru is to climb the podium steps.
“He learned a lot in Cuba and I am not seeing him returning to Guyana without a medal,” said Poole.
“I am confident and I am strong and I am prepared, so everything going forward for me is 100 per cent,” stated Allicock, who is always brimming with confidence.
Guyana has competed in 15 editions of the Games, accruing 18 medals: two gold, four silver and 12 bronze. However, Guyana has not medalled at the event since 2011, when it was held in Guadalajara, Mexico.
Below is a full listing of the teams and the disciplines they will be participating in:
Badminton (July 29 – August 2): Narayan Ramdhani, Priyanna Ramdhani (Manager/Coach: Gokarn Ramdhani)
Boxing (July 27 – August 2): Keevin Allicock (Manager/Coach: Terence Poole)
Taekwondo (July 27 – 29): Justin Choy (Coach: Mark Choy)
Squash (July 25 – 31): Mary Fung- A-Fat, Ashley Khalil, Taylor Fernandes (Manager: David Fernandes; Official Chaperone: Juanita Fernandes; Coach: Ramon Chan-a-Sue)
Table Tennis (August 4 – 10): Chelsea Edghill (Manager: Godfrey Munroe; Coach: Idi Lewis)
Athletics: Winston George (200m), Aliyah Abrams (400m), Emanuel Archibald (Long Jump), Brenessa Thompson (Manager/Coach: Julian Edmonds). Track and Field will be held from August 6 – 10 and the Guyanese representatives will arrive on August 2.
Rugby (July 26 – 28): Claudius Butts, Lancelot Adonis, Richard Staglon, Peabo Hamilton, Vallon Adams, Patrick King, Jamal Angus, Godfrey Broomes, Avery Corbin, Dwayne Schroeder, Ozie McKenzie, Ronald Mayers, Selwyn Henry, (Manager: Peter Green; Coach: Sherlock Sam; Physiotherapist: Akeem Fraser)
Swimming (August 6 – 10): Daniel Scott, Nikita Fiedtkou (Manager/Coach: Paul Mahaica)
Notable absentees are Troy Doris and Leslain Baird, who, it is understood, are currently not fully fit for competition.
Nalini McKoy has been named Chef-de-Mission of the contingent. Adding the officials, the total contingent will be 42 persons. (Emmerson Campbell)
