– Guyana/French Guiana tie for second
By Rawle Toney
After claiming the first leg of the 2009 Inter-Guiana Games (IGG) title which was held in Guyana earlier this year Suriname returned to dominate the second leg, eventually retaining their overall title as the games climaxed in Suriname over the weekend.
Guyana and French Guiana shared the second spot being deadlocked on points.
While the French Guiana teams showed some level of improvement it was nothing short of total domination by the hosts as they won the male and female swimming and football competitions as well as the male basketball, volleyball and cycling competitions.
They were runners-up in female cycling and basketball. Guyana went to Suriname holding second place in the overall standing, with French Guiana sitting closely behind and, on the opening day, Guyana’s male basketball team defeated French Guiana 95-90 while the female volleyball team, who were not expected to come up with a win, zipped the mouths of their critics by beating French Guiana.
While the French Guiana female basketball team upset Suriname, the Suriname team rebounded by thrashing Guyana’s females 114-13.
Guyana’s woes began on the second day of competition.
The male and female volleyball teams were beaten by French Guiana and Suriname respectively while the female basketballers received their 101 point thrashing.
In cycling, Suriname won the team Time Trials from Guyana and French Guiana respectively.
The closing day of the tri-nation tournament belonged exclusively to the hosts as they sped to victory in the male cycling road race.
They also pulled off an upset victory in the male basketball pipping defending champions Guyana by two points. They then pulverized French Guiana in the female volleyball competition.
Guyana, though, gained some measure of consolation by winning the female cycling event through Marica Dick with Naomi Singh third.
Beach volleyball and chess competitions were also contested but not for points. Both disciplines were won by Suriname.
Director of Sports Neil Kumar said that generally he was pleased with Guyana’s performance especially with the female volleyball team.
“I think we did well you know, I think the girls really performed and I’m also glad to see how well our basketball guys played you know, so overall it wasn’t bad really. Next year we will come stronger than Suriname for the title,” Kumar said.
“The games in Suriname I think were very successful. I like how it was very competitive and I think we matched them all but we fell short in some areas. Chess, I was very impressed with how our chess players did. Anyhow, next year we will come back strong, don’t worry.”
The first leg of the 2010 games will be held in French Guiana at the end of March and will see the three countries competing in swimming, football and athletics while the second leg will be held in Guyana.
At the opening of the second leg at the Anthony Nesty stadium, representatives of the three countries had pledged the support of their respective governments for the IGG.
