Pan-Am Games 2023: Guyana’s Emmanuel Pompey suffers split decision defeat

By Akeem Greene in Chile

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The fairytale start for boxer Emmanuel Pompey at his first Pan American Games was not to be, as he fell to Antiguan Tabukuo Aska in his Men’s 92kg contest at the Olympic Training Centre in Santiago, Chile.

Pompey lost via split decision and, on reflection, would rue not winning as he had moments of brilliance, but as his teammate, Keevin Allicock, shouted from the sidelines, “Relax, relax your muscles, and one, two, one two,” it shows, he was well within winning had he upped his efficacy of landing punches.

The five judges had it 29-28, 30-27, 28-29, 30-27 and 30-27 in Aska’s favour.

For 20-year-old Pompey, it was an experience of immense learning value, and he stated he has to return to the gym for further work to reap success at the international stage.

Pompey’s fight was the only competitive action for Team Guyana on Friday, but on Saturday, Swimming, Boxing, Badminton, and Taekwondo will be in action as the Games shift a gear after the opening ceremony on Friday evening at the Julio Martínez National Stadium from 20:30h.

Events on Saturday for Guyana 

Swimming

• Raekwon Noel – Men’s Men’s 400m Freestyle – Heat One – 09:18h.

Taekwondo

• Ceili Peterson – Women’s Kyorugi -49 Kg – 10:30h – 14:30h

Boxing (Round-of-16 in Men’s 80kg)

• Desmond Amsterdam (GUY) v (ARG) Gabriel Buonarrigo – 13:30h

Badminton (Women’s Singles Round-of-32)

• Priyanna Ramdhani (GUY) v (BRA) Juliana Vieira – 18:30h