It’s official, 20 athletes from seven disciplines will represent Guyana at the XXI Commonwealth Games, commonly known as Gold Coast 2018, which will be held on the Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia between April 4 and 15.
The Golden Arrowhead will be represented in badminton, boxing, rifle shooting, squash, swimming, table tennis and track and field.
The outfits along with 10 officials have varying departure dates prior to the Games, but will all be present ‘Down Under’ before the April 4th opening ceremony.
These and other details were disclosed yesterday during a media briefing at the Guyana Olympic Association (GOA) Headquarters at Liliendaal.
President of the GOA, K Juman-Yassin told media operatives that he was confident of the sportsmen and women performing at their best in an effort to do the nation proud at the prestigious fixture which attracts 71 participating nations competing in 19 sports.
Vice President of the GOA, and President of the table tennis association, Godfrey Munroe, mentioned that the team of Trenace Lowe, Pricilla Greaves, Christopher Franklyn, Natalie Cummings, Shemar Britton, Nigel Bryan and Joel Alleyne will depart Guyana next week. He added that along with Coach Idi Lewis and the assistance of Sydney Christophe, they will compete in the Westchester Open in New York.
Munroe opined that the tournament in the USA will offer the much-needed competition and the Guyana Table Tennis Association (GTTA) is confident of the team performing above expectations in Australia.
Meanwhile, in the absence of Coach Ramon Chan-A-Sue, David Fernandes, Guyana’s General Team Manager, said the squash team (Mary Fun-A-Fat, Taylor Fernandes, Sunil Seth and Jason Khalil) will be heading to the Commonwealth Games a confident bunch, while adding, “the good thing for squash is that most of the top players in the world are from countries within the Commonwealth, and as such, I think the games will give them a chance to play the best in the world and I’m sure they will give their best.”
Coach Sebert Blake was also optimistic of the pugilistic pair of Keevin Allicock and Collin ‘Superman’ Lewis performing well inside the ropes.
Blake reminded of the duo’s showing at the CAC Games qualifiers in Mexico where they both finished with a bronze and will be representing Guyana in Barranquilla, Colombia in July.
“I believe they are in their best shape and will do great things in Australia. I’m glad that we’re actually getting in a week early so we will be able to acclimatize and adjust to the conditions in the Gold Coast,” said Blake.
Former national sprinter and record holder, Julian Edmonds was announced as coach of the Track and Field team which comprises of Troy Doris, Winston George, Emanuel Archibald, Leslain Baird, Natricia Hooper and Natrena Hooper.
Narayan Ramdhani is the lone badminton player donning national colors and his father Gokarn Ramdhani will serve as his coach.
Andrew Fowler and Jamila Sanmoogan’s chances of a podium finish seems slim, according to Coach Sean Baksh, who said the two swimmers have been recording decent times in the pool, but the high caliber games will be used as part of their long-term goal of preparing for the Olympic Games in 2020.
The rifle shooting team will include Paul Slowe (Coach), Ransford Goodluck and Lennox Braithwaite.
