FEMALE boxer Theresa London is among a team of boxers shortlisted for selection to represent Guyana at the Commonwealth Games, where boxing in the female category is being introduced for the first time this year.

This is according to Guyana Boxing Association (GBA) president Steve Ninvalle who earlier this week disclosed that a number of boxers have been recommended for the team. Though reluctant to release the complete list of boxers Ninvalle confirmed that London is expected to be on the team, as the Association continues its promotion of exposure for female boxers.
According to Ninvalle the Association hopes to submit a team of at least 3 boxers for participation in the July 23 to August 3 event which will be held in Glasgow, Scotland.
The boxers, Ninvalle said, were selected based on recommendations from the Coaches Commission, which is headed by Coach Seibert Blake as chairman, and Terrence Poole as vice-chairman.
“The Coaches Commission made some recommendations to us and we’ve accepted those boxers. I think that was the best way to go (in selecting the boxers). We created the Coaches Commission to minimise errors in selection, because we the officials are not in the gym and we don’t know how the boxers perform, so we asked the coaches commission to make a contribution.
“They have shortlisted several boxers including Theresa London as the lone female boxer,” Ninvalle said in a telephone interview with Chronicle Sport earlier this week.
Those boxers are expected to undergo a training encampment later this month, set to begin June 27. Ninvalle stated that after this encampment period the Association will make a positive decision on the boxers who will make up the team. This, Ninvalle pointed out, will ensure the fair selection of boxers most capable of representing Guyana at the esteemed Games.
“Even though (the selection process) is very democratic and transparent, still we are waiting on the encampment before we make a final decision on the team.” Ninvalle said.
Female boxing is being introduced into the programme at the multisport event since its inception in 1930. Female athletes will compete in the flyweight, lightweight and middleweight categories. Medals will be fought for over four rounds of two minutes each.
Boxing is one of seven disciplines Guyana will be participating in out of the 17 to be contested at the Games.
Boxing was a part of the Guyanese contingent that attended the Games four years ago in Delhi, where the boxing fraternity took a blow as three of the boxers never returned to Guyana. They absconded in transit in the USA. Dexter Jordan, Clevon Rock and Devon Boatswain were all administered lifetime banns for their actions.

(By Tamica Garnett)