Barbados has confirmed an 11 member travelling party for the prestigious Winfield Braithwaite Caribbean Schoolboys/Juniors Championship scheduled for August 18th – 20th at the National Gymnasium, Mandela Avenue and president of the Guyana Boxing Association (GBA) Steve Ninvalle is delighted with the development.
The ‘Land of Flying Fish’ officially submitted their team, which features a two-member technical staff, and a nine fighter squad, to the Guyana Boxing Association (GBA) last evening.
“Like Grenada and Trinidad and Tobago before them, we are delighted to have the participation of the Barbadian team, which gives further credence and overall integrity to this significant regional championship,” said Ninvalle.
“The participation of Barbados adds to the international flavour of the tournament, which has now become an immutable attribute of this burgeoning venture. It is also suggestive and even symbolic of the importance being placed by the confirmed nations on their respective nursery, of which this tournament empowers and exposes,” he added.
The cadre will be supervised by head-coach Figuerado Bowen whilst Kimberly Gittens is the manager.
Their combat roster comprises Malachi Estwick – Schoolboys – [Light Bantamweight – 50 – 52KG]; Jaquan Grant – Schoolboys – [Featherweight – 54 – 57KG]; Cai Reid – Schoolboys – [Light Heavyweight – 75 – 80KG]; Lizzie Haney – Schoolgirls – [Middleweight – 70 – 75KG]; Jaheim Estwick – Juniors – [Light Welterweight – 60 – 63KG]; Jazari Narine-Mayers – Youth – [Featherweight – 54 – 57KG]; Abishai Baptiste – Youth – [Light Welterweight – 60 – 63KG]; Nathan Walcott – Youth – [Welterweight – 63 – 67KG]; and Dave Richards – Youth – [Light Middleweight – 67 – 71KG].
To date, Grenada and Trinidad and Tobago have also confirmed their participation.
Involvement is also expected from St Lucia and Jamaica, who are set to announce their squads shortly, whilst Aruba, The Bahamas and St Maarten have signalled interest in participating. Guyana has emerged as the overall champion at each edition.
Said Ninvalle, “The 2023 edition is certainly poised to surpass the previous, prestigious iterations. The GBA anticipates the addition of other Caribbean countries, in the process cementing, via their corresponding participation, the relevance of the event which has mutated into a legitimate Caribbean championships with each edition. This speaks to value, which has been built through a concerted effort and vision of GBA. A vision not only to develop Guyana’s boxing fraternity but to evolve and advance the entire Caribbean ecosystem.”
