The 2024 edition of the Winfield Braithwaite Caribbean Schoolboys and Schoolgirls Boxing Championship punches off tonight at the National Gymnasium and is expected to field three thrilling nights of school-aged action.
With the tournament expanding to six participating territories, six-time champions Guyana will face a stern test as they prepare to do battle on home soil.
Neighbouring Suriname has sent a 10-man squad, while Antigua will field two of their best boxers. Additionally, Grenada, Trinidad and Tobago, and St. Lucia will all field boxers looking for top honours in the competition. Guyana will field a 30-member roster, as they aim to retain the overall title.
First introduced in 2016 with just three nations, the competition continues to grow, both in terms of participating countries and the number of young pugilists.
Speaking at the official launch, which was staged at the Ministry of Culture, Youth, and Sport boardroom, Steve Ninvalle, President of the Guyana Boxing Association (GBA), affirmed the importance of such an event, which goes beyond the squared circle, noting, “Tournaments like these are crucial for developing our young boxers.”
The first match of the competition will commence at 19:00hrs. It is slated to conclude on Sunday.