Barbados became the third CARICOM nation to signal their intention of participating at the first International Schoolboys and Juniors tournament set for the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall in April. Secretary of the Barbados Boxing Association Kathy Harper-Hall made the disclosure via email to Guyana Amateur Boxing Association president Steve Ninvalle late last week.The size of the Bajan contingent would be known later. Barbados joins St Lucia and Jamaica as the other two countries confirmed to send teams to Guyana for the two-day event.
At present Trinidad and Tobago is the only invited country yet to respond.
The Schoolboys and Juniors tournament is planned for April 29 and 30. It was organised following a meeting of regional boxing administrators held here in November, where emphasis on boxing’s nursery was highlighted.
The regional administrators pointed out then that the region has no competition for schoolboys and juniors and a call was made for more focus on that department. Four years ago, the Demerara Distillers Limited, through its Pepsi brand commenced sponsorship of the GABA Under-16 competition.
Since Guyana already had the Schoolboys’ structure in place hosting of the International competition was a natural progression Ninvalle said
. GABA has named a team of 40 young fighters, including three females to train for the April. Most of the boxers are graduates of the DDL competition.
Local Three Start coach Sebert Blake has already been appointed Head Coach of the young squad.