AN INVESTMENT of some $6M to the Guyana Amateur Powerlifting Federation (GAPF) by government ahead of this weekend’s Novices and Junior Championships at the National Gymnasium.The Ministry of Sport has presented to the Federation three new Eleiko lifting sets – to facilitate the squat, deadlift and bench press competition lifts.

Each set comprises a squat/stand and bench rack that can be transformed to facilitate the respective exercise, a professional competition platform/stage and disc plates totalling some 2 400 pounds.
One set will be erected for Sunday’s competition that starts at 10:00hrs.
Of the sets, president of the GAPF Peter Green said, ‘This will enable me to have more impact when I go to Canada in December and bid for the Commonwealth championships to come to Guyana in the next two years.’
He said the gift was the fulfilment of a promise made over two years ago by Sport Minister Dr Frank Anthony.
Eleiko is produced by a Swedish firm, and is the brand used at international competitions.
Dr Anthony said the Federation has rejuvenate d and expanded the sport over the past few years and government is pleased to be partnering with them.
“We expect as they’ve done in the past that they will care the equipment and now that we’ve given you three new sets what you used to do with one, now you do three times more.”
That aside, the Federation is not too pleased that the Caribbean Championships, originally set to be hosted here in April was withdrawn by the North American Powerlifting Federation.
“They claim the travel, airfares and the budgets of the islands were unaffordable at this time. I wouldn’t speculate on that, so we will no longer be holding the Caribbean championships this year. However, we’ve been assured it will be held in 2016 in Guyana, March,” noted Green.
The federation had already secured sponsorship to host the event but they were forced to go back to sponsors and prospective sponsors and have instead asked them to redirect any funds towards the Commonwealth Powerlifting Championships set for December in Vancouver, Canada.
For the lifters, who had qualified in December for this year’s championship, a local Champion of Champions Championship with lucrative prizes will be held in April.
(By Leeron Brumell)