President of the Guyana Boxing Association (GBA), Steve Ninvalle is looking at the glass half-full despite the local boxers suffering a serious blow to their chances at competing at the Olympic Games following the cancellation of the boxing qualifier for the Americas.
The qualifier which was scheduled for Argentina next month was cancelled Thursday due to the health and safety concerns of the pandemic as record cases of COVID-19 continue to surge in Argentina and worldwide.
Argentina’s capital, Buenos Aires was due to host the qualification tournament from May 10 to 16.
As an alternative, the Boxing Task Force (BTF) has restructured a pathway to the Olympic Games in Tokyo, Japan this summer via a ranking system.
However, the ranking system could eliminate the Olympic future of Guyana’s elite trio of Keevin Allicock, Colin Lewis and Desmond Amsterdam as well as others around the region.
Guyana’s other elite boxer; Dennis Thomas has pulled out from Olympic qualification owing to personal reasons.
Ninvalle, though, is staying optimistic of their chances.
“Continue to train as if you are still on the Road to Tokyo” was the message to the boxers who could still potentially compete at the Olympic Games in Tokyo this summer.
Ninvalle added: “All local boxers selected for the now cancelled Olympic Qualifiers will continue training as nothing is off the table. As was said, the rankings and tripartite programme would be used in order to confirm who has qualified.
He continued, “The IOC has its own way (and I must say complex) of determining who will qualify. We will await their decision.”
The updated version of the qualification system for the Tokyo Games will be published once approved by the IOC Executive Board, expected by May 7.
Ninvalle concluded by saying that “Over the years Guyana has consistently nurtured a competitive squad of boxers. I am optimistic that dividends from that programme will be received.”
