By Akeem Greene
Nalini McKoy has been named Chef-de-Mission of a contingent that comprises 20 male and eight female athletes, who will represent Guyana at the 18th edition of the Pan-American Games in Lima, Peru, from July 26 to August 11. Adding the officials, the total contingent will be 42 persons.
The contingent was announced by President of the Guyana Olympic Association (GOA) K.A. Juman Yassin at the Association’s headquarters located at Liliendaal on Saturday (July 13).
Yassin cautioned persons on how they weigh expectations given the current gulf between some Guyanese athletes and those of the developed world.
“I am hoping that our players will compete well. I am hoping for medals, but the important thing is for each athlete to do their best. It is for each athlete to be able to see in their mind that they could win, for each of them to picture themselves on the podium, unless they do that it is not going to happen.”
He added, “It is so much a coach can do, it is so much a National Association or the GOA can do; at the end of the day, a lot of the responsibility is on the athlete. Parallel to that, for that athlete to develop and be successful, that athlete needs to be exposed to good training facilities, good competition, and unless they have those things, they are running against the tide.”
GOA General Secretary, Hector Edwards, explained that the Pan-Am Games is the stepping stone for the Olympics since the Games act as qualifier for some disciplines. Edwards echoed the sentiments of Yassin, that athletes will need support and overtime as they mature they will produce better results.
Notable absentees are Troy Doris and Leslain Baird, who, it is understood, are currently not fully fit for competition.
The Games, which started in 1951, are held every four years. Guyana has competed in 15 editions of the Games, accruing eighteen medals: two Gold, four Silver and 12 Bronze.
However, Guyana has not medalled at the Games since 2011, when it was held in Guadalajara, Mexico.
Below is a full listing of the entire team and the discipline they will be participating in.
Badminton (July 29- August 2): Narayan Ramdhani, Priyanna Ramdhani, Gokarn Ramdhani (Manager/Coach).
Boxing (July 27-August 2): Keevin Allicock, Terence Poole (Manager/Coach).
Taekwondo (July 27-29): Justin Choy, Mark Choy (Coach).
Squash (July 25-31): Mary Fung- A-Fat, Ashley Khalil, Taylor Fernandes, David Fernandes (Manager), Juanita Fernandes (Official Chaperone), Ramon Chan-a-Sue (Coach).
Table Tennis (August 4-10): Chelsea Edghill, Godfrey Munroe (Manager), Idi Lewis (Coach).
Athletics: Winston George (200m), Aliyah Abrams (400m), Emanuel Archibald (Long Jump), Brenessa Thompson, Julian Edmonds (Manager/Coach). Track and Field will be held from August 6-10 and the Guyanese representatives will arrive on August 2.
Rugby (July 26-28): Claudius Butts, Lancelot Adonis, Richard Staglon, Peabo Hamilton, Vallon Adams, Patrick King, Jamal Angus, Godfrey Broomes, Avery Corbin, Dwayne Schroeder, Ozie McKenzie, Ronald Mayers, Selwyn Henry, Peter Green (Manager), Sherlock Sam (Coach), Akeem Fraser (Physiotherapist).
Swimming (August 6-10): Daniel Scott, Nikita Fiedtkou, Paul Mahaica (Manager/Coach).
