PRESIDENT of the Guyana Amateur Power-lifting Federation (GAPF), Peter Green, showed great optimism for a successful hosting of the fourth Annual International Power-lifting Federation (IPF), North American Power Lifting Federation (NAPF) Caribbean Bench Press and Power Lifting Championships,  set for the Princess  Hotel from March 18 to 20.

A strong 15-man squad was selected by the GAPF to represent Guyana at the prestigious tournament that will feature burly men from the USA, Trinidad and Tobago, Cayman Islands, Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands.

Speaking at a press conference hosted yesterday at the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport, Green noted that the selected lifters are some of the best strong men presently in Guyana and as such, he’s confident that Guyana will come out on top, especially having one of the largest contingent at the championships.

Initially, Trinidad and Tobago were scheduled to host the competition but the body responsible in the Twin Island Republic was not financially fit to host the event and as such, Guyana was given the nod and Green openly accepted.

“With a profound interest shown by the Ministry of Sport, we are now nearing this dream. We have all of the mechanisms in place and this championship is expected to be the best so far that the North American Federation has ever seen in the Caribbean. This is the fourth championships which means we are still in the early stages,” Green said.

Three of the country’s more prominent lifters are named in the squad – ‘Big’ John Edwards, Randolph Morgan and Mervin ‘Spongy’ Moses.

The trio represented Guyana last year at the same event which was hosted in St Thomas, US Virgin Islands, and it was there that ‘Big John’ claimed records in the Masters M1B Class at 125 kg with a new squat record of 337.5kg and new total of 837.5kg, winning the Men’s Open 125kg division to take the Caribbean and NAPF Regional accolades. 

Morgan who was named the Caribbean Champion by virtue of winning the best lifter award presently owns the 82.5kg class.

According to the GAPF boss, the team put together this year will be more than able to place Guyana firmly on the map as it relates to participating at the championships and further afield after Edwards, Moses and Morgan did us so proud.

“Guyana have proven that they are very capable of taking part in the Power Lifting Championships. We have a full-strength team of 15 lifters which will enable us at this time to satisfy the demand of the public to brining home the team championships and individual lifting in which over the last two years, we only had three lifters,” Green noted.

Meanwhile, Minister of Sport Dr Frank Anthony, whose ministry has been fully supportive of the GAPF drive to properly host the event, expressed his confidence that GAPF will properly administer the championships.

“The partnership between the ministry and the power-lifting association has seen it come to some level of prominence in our country which is commendable and after that resurgence and now having international championships coming here; I think it’s a more remarkable feat,” added the sports minister.

Athletes and other officials will start  arriving  in Guyana from Wednesday March 17 and after the technical meetings and accreditations along with the weigh-in fully completed, the best strong men will tackle the iron on Saturday, March 20.

A loud appeal was made for the public to come out and encourage the local competitors since Minister Anthony noted that it “would be very important because it would encourage the young athletes, even our seasoned ones, to go forward and get more medals for us. This competition is coming here for the first time, so this is a big plus.