Guyanese athletes off to historic Junior Pan Am Games sojourn

Guyanese athletes and officials are off to Colombia to represent the nation in the first-ever Junior Pan American Games, slated for November 25 to December 5.

The inaugural multi-sport event, geared to create a pathway to higher performance, will cater to athletes aged 17 to 22 competing in over 25 disciplines.

Approximately 3,500 of the world’s next generation of athletes would converge on the South American nation.

Guyana would be represented in the disciplines of Badminton, Boxing, Squash, Table Tennis, Weightlifting, Athletics and Swimming.

Guyana’s delegation is led by Chef-de-Mission Deirdre Edghill, and importantly has a physiotherapy Jana Edghill onboard.

Treasurer of the Guyana Olympic Association Garfield Wiltshire pointed out that Eureka Labs has provided the PCR tests for the entire Guyana contingent free of charge, like it did for the country’s delegation at the Tokyo Olympic Games earlier this year.

Notably, this contingent is way bigger than the one that travelled to Tokyo.

“As you know these tests are not cheap, and they have again come forward and provided these tests free of charge. We would like to express our appreciation to them for offering this service to us,” Wiltshire said.

Kalam Juman-Yassin, the long-serving President of the Guyana Olympic Association, delivered the charge to the Guyanese athletes and officials, as they prepare to embark on the historic journey, one that could potentially shape their budding careers.

He emphasised the need for them to be good Ambassadors and role models.

“You are representing Guyana…and I ask you wherever you go, ensure you conduct yourself in a way that would not be disrespectful to the society of Colombia, and would be as respectful as we would want it in Guyana,” Juman-Yassin urged the athletes and officials.

 Team Guyana to Junior Pan Am Games 2021

Badminton: Narayan Ramdhani, Priyanna Ramdhani, Akili Haynes, Tyrese Jeffrey

Boxing: Terrence Poole, Alesha Jackman, Patrick Harvey, Travis Inverary

Squash: Garfield Wiltshire, Shomari Wiltshire, Samuel Ince-Carvalhal, Michael Alphonso

Table Tennis: Idi Lewis, Miguel Wong, Jonathan Van Lange

Weightlifting: Sean Cozier, Esther Nurse

Athletics: Johnny Gravesande, Revon Williams, Noelex Holder, Kelisa Smith, Chantoba Bright, Kenisha Phillips

Swimming: Paul Mahaica Sr., Paul Mahaica Jr., Patrice Mahaica, Leon Seaton, Aleka Persaud