Keevin Allicock handed the country a perfect start in its quest to replicate or better Wesley Christmas 1990 bronze medal performance in Auckland, New Zealand, by progressing to the Round-of-16 at the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, England.
According to a release from the Guyana Olympic Association, Allicock, the first boxer since John Douglas (1996) to feature at the Olympics, had an impressive performance in his bantamweight clash with Kenya’s Okoth Okongo in Round-of-32 action at the National Exhibition Centre (NEC).
The Forgotten Youth Foundation boxer punched his way to a perfect score on all five judges’ scorecards.
With his Unanimous Decision victory, Allicock will move on to the Round-of-16 to face Sri Lankan Nisshanka Bamunu on August 1.
At the 2018 Gold Coast Games, Allicock suffered a 1-4 defeat to Reece McFadden of Scotland, after a bye to the Round-of-16.
Many felt that the result was not favourable to the Guyanese, since some pundits thought the fight was much closer.
The 2017 Youth Commonwealth Games silver medallist said in preparation for the Commonwealth Games, he kept the series of unfortunate results in mind.
“The Youth Commonwealth Games is where it all started. I did it then and I serve a god and I know he will do it all back again (for me). I’m here keeping focus and heading towards the gold,” Allicock said.
He added, “I’m trusting God all the time because he’s the one doing this for me. I can’t win these bouts for myself. I can’t win these bouts on my own. So I’m just staying focused, executing all plans and we’ll take it from there.”
Meanwhile, Light welterweight, Colin Lewis, is down to compete on Sunday against Colin Louis Richamo from Mauritius.
Also stepping into the ring today, Desmond Amsterdam will be making his Commonwealth Games debut against New Zealand’s Richardson Emile.
Both Lewis and Amsterdam received a bye to the Round-of-16 of their respective categories.
TABLE TENNIS
Just like in 2018, Guyana’s female team’s run at the Commonwealth Games came to an end in the Quarter-finals.
The team of Chelsea Edghill, Natalie Cummings and Priscila Greaves went down 0-3 to Singapore yesterday at the National Exhibition Centre in Birmingham, England.
Thuraia Thomas did not feature against Singapore.
Guyana had finished second in their Group behind India, following victories over commanding victories over Fiji and South Africa.
Against Singapore, the pair of Chelsea Edghill and Natalie Cummings faced Zhou JingYi and Zeng Jian, where they were defeated 11-5, 11-8, 11-6.
Olympic Bronze Medallist Feng Tianwei then brushed aside Prescilla Greaves 11-3, 11-1, 11-4.
Already up 2-0, Singapore’s Zeng Jian battled Edghill. The world’s #60-ranked player easily defeated the Guyanese 11-5, 11-4, 11-2.
Since Table Tennis was introduced at the Commonwealth Games in 2002, Singapore’s only defeat in the Teams event was in 2018 when they lost to India in the finals.
Coach Idi Lewis lauded the Guyanese women’s performance, but added that with more support in Guyana, the results could be better.
“I thought the girls played amazing. There was nobody looking like us in the quarter-finals. We were seeded fourth in the group; we were supposed to finish last in the group. So to come with such a low seeding and to finish second in the group,” Lewis said.
He further noted, “coming from under the current financial structure that we’re under, the financial constraints as far as budget goes, preparation for these games, I think these girls have delivered way beyond what we’re experiencing and going through in Guyana.”
The focus now shifts to the singles competition, as coach Lewis once again doubles-down on the fact that despite the lack of resources, the females are still delivering.
On the sidelines, following his defeat to Singapore, Lewis said if the team can be properly prepared, they will be able to give themselves a chance at major tournaments like the Commonwealth Games.
