The Olympic podium dreams of table tennis player, Chelsea Edghill and boxer, Keevin Allicock ended yesterday in Tokyo, Japan.
Edghill lost in straight sets to South Korea’s Yubin Shin (11-7, 11-8, 11-1, 12-10) in the second round of the preliminary women’s singles competition to get into the main draw while the featherweight Alliock dropped a unanimous verdict to Alexy De La Cruz Baez in the preliminary round at the ongoing Games of the XXXII Olympiad.
Prior to the the Yubin matchup, Edghill, served off her Olympic debut campaign in fine style, defeating two-time Olympian, Sally Yee of Fiji 4-1 in the prelims to advance.
Despite exiting the games, Edghill, 24, made her mark by creating history. The racquet wielder is the first local table tennis player to compete at the games and she is the first to win a match at the games. She was also the one of the Flag Bearers during the grand opening ceremony.
Allicock, 22, is the first boxer to represent Guyana at the global event in 25 years.
He vowed to be back at the global showpiece in Paris, France in 2024.
Meanwhile, Guyana’s other representatives at the games which was postponed last year due to the coronavirus pandemic, include Track and Field athletes, Emanuel Archibald (100m), Jasmine Abrams (100m) and Aliyah Abrams (400m) along with Swimmers, 15 year-old Aleka Persaud and Andrew Fowler, Guyana’s other Flag Bearer at the Opening Ceremony.
Fowler (100m freestyle) and Persaud (50m freestyle) kick off their Olympic debut campaign on July 27 and July 30 at the Tokyo Aquatic Centre.
Jasmine Abrams, Archibald and Aliyah Abrams will get into their blocks on July 30, 31 and August 3 respectively at the Olympic Stadium. (Emmerson Campbell)
