-Khan attracted medical infection
GUYANA’S boxing hopes at this year’s Olympics which will be held in London, were shattered at the just concluded Rio de Janeiro held Olympic Box Off, where they lost out in the qualifiers. At a simple press conference held yesterday afternoon at the office of Guyana Amateur Boxing Association (GABA) president Steve Ninvalle, who was accompanied by national coach Terrence Poole, the media was given inside details to the dilemma of the country’s boxers.
Poole outlined the performance of Stefan Gouveia, Bert Braithwaite and Imran Khan as poor, adding that Khan picked up a virus upon arrival in neighbouring Brazil, which resulted in him vomiting and having to receive saline drips before his first round bout which he lost.
He noted that Khan had to seek medical attention and was attended to by a doctor of the games medical panel who made recommendations and issued medications to him, but a determined Khan entered the ring despite his physical condition and was overpowered by his opponent.
Poole said Gouveia and Braithwaite’s opponents were more experienced than them, physically faster and proved to be the better fighters in winning the rounds.
Braithwaite he noted, won his first round bout, moved onto the second round where he faced a Colombian opponent, but  the Colombian’s  speed and experience paved the way for his victory as he went on to win a bronze medal in his division.
Ninvalle stated that it is an experience learnt and the GABA is working to prepare our young boxers for the next upcoming tournament which he indicated will be an Under-16 tournament sponsored by Demerara Distilleries Limited (DDL).
He noted that Guyana, since 1996 has not broken the jinks to win a place at an Olympic Games and has such taken the initative to commence preparation.
He added that there might be, if possible, a wild card allocation which he had engaged president of the Guyana Olympics Association (GOA) K. Juman Yassin on, who later indicated his intention to seek all possible avenues in making such a reality.
Ninvalle thanked the organizations and businesses who contributed to the sponsorship of the successful participation of the team in Brazil, singling out the GOA, Cummings Electrical, Digicel, Omai and the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport.