Dear Editor,
I write as a boxing fan concerned about the shameful treatment of the young amateur boxers at the recently-concluded under-16 boxing competition sponsored by Pepsi and organized by the Guyana Amateur Boxing Association (GABA).
These young boxers put their every effort into preparing and training for the competition, and they expected to be treated with respect and dignity by the organizers of the competition. Instead upon arrival at the venue, the boxers were fed unsuitable meals consisting of hot spicy food, more suitable for spectators sitting safely in the stands than for boxers battling away in the ring.
The boxing organizers should be aware that they cannot feed boxers just any kind of food or food that is nutritionally unbalanced and unsuitable for the needs of boxers, especially during competition. Is there any nutritionist in GABA who can advise them on the nutritional needs of boxers so that this fiasco is never repeated? GABA should be aware that this kind of situation does not augur well for the development of boxing among the youths of Guyana. Indeed this endangers our young boxers.
The young boxers also expressed dissatisfaction with the quality of the trophies that were given to them at the end of the competition.
The medals were very tiny and the trophy cups were very small, (about 4 inches high) and not engraved with the name of the competition and place of winning. The boxers were very disappointed that all their efforts at training, preparation and actual fighting in the ring were rewarded by insignificant trophies and cheap medals.
They feel that better quality and bigger trophies should have been awarded to them so as to give them a sense of achievement and to encourage them in the future.
The purpose of this letter is not to grind an axe with the sponsor or organizer of the competition, but to point out deficiencies, which may be systemic, but need to be addressed by all concerned so that the needs of the young boxers can be better and properly handled.
Yours faithfully,
(Name and address provided)
