THE Guyana Olympic Association (GOA) yesterday unveiled the names of 20 athletes and 10 officials who will be heading to Australia’s Gold Coast for the April 4-15, 21st edition of the Commonwealth Games.

At a press conference, hosted at the Guyana Olympic Association (GOA), president Juman-Yassin said that he’s confident, the representatives of the various disciplines selected by the respective association will do well ‘Down Under,’ and he truly believes the best athletes were selected.
Guyana will be represented in badminton, boxing, rifle-shooting, squash, swimming, table tennis and track and field.

Godfrey Monroe, who sits at the helm of table tennis in Guyana, told the media that the team of Trenace Lowe, Priscilla Greaves, Christopher Franklin, Natalie Cummings, Shemar Britton, Nigel Bryan and Joel Alleyne will depart Guyana next week along with coach Idi Lewis and with the assistance of Sydney Christophe, they will compete in the Westchester Open in New York.

Monroe said he believes that the tournament in the U.S. will offer the much-needed competition and the Guyana Table Tennis Association (GTTA) is confident that the team will perform above expectations in Australia.

In the absence of coach Ramon Chan-A-Sue, David Fernandes, Guyana’s General Team Manager, said the squash team (Mary Fung-A-Fat, Taylor Fernandes, Sunil Seth and Jason Khalil) will be heading to the Commonwealth Games as a confident bunch, adding, “The good thing for squash is that most of the top players in the world are from countries within the Commonwealth, and as such, I think the games will give them (the team) a chance to play the best in the world and I’m sure they will give their best.”

Meanwhile, in boxing, coach Sebert Blake said Keevin Allicock and Collin ‘Superman’ Lewis happen to be Guyana’s best chances of medalling at the games.
Blake referred to the pair of fighters’ showing at the CAC Games qualifiers in Mexico, where they both finished with bronze. They will be representing Guyana in Colombia later this year.

“I believe they are in their best shape and will do great things in Australia. I’m glad that we’re actually getting in a week early so we will be able to acclimatise and adjust to the conditions in the Gold Coast,” Blake noted.
Julian Edmonds was announced as coach of Guyana’s track and field team that comprises Troy Doris, Winston George, Emanuel Archibald, Leslain Baird, Natricia Hooper and Natrena Hooper.

Narayan Ramdhani is the lone badminton player in the squad and his father Gokarn Ramdhani will serve as his coach.
Andrew Fowler and Jamila Sanmoogan’s chances of a podium finish seem slim, according to coach Sean Baksh, who said the pair have been doing decent times in the pool, but the games will be used as part of their long-term goals of preparing for the Olympic Games in 2020.

The rifle-shooting team will include Paul Slowe (coach), Ransford Goodluck and Lennox Braithwaite.
The athletes and officials will depart at different dates leading up to the games, but will all be present in Australia ahead of the April 4 opening ceremony.