–to feature in Swimming, Squash and Table Tennis on Day One

By Rawle Tony in Birmingham, England
UNDER the bright lights, fireworks and the roar of almost 32,000 fans in the Alexander Stadium, Guyanese athletes soaked up what was described as an amazing opening of the 22nd Commonwealth Games last evening in Birmingham, England.

With the Golden Arrowhead being carried by Olympians Keevin Allicock and Aliyah Abrams, the country’s athletes looked stunning in their uniquely-designed outfits depicting the colours of the national lag.

Steven Knight, the creator of the famous Netflix series, ‘Peaky Blinders’, produced the event, and, as was promised, the opening ceremony was indeed one that will certainly be remembered.

‘Peaky Blinders’ is set in Birmingham, here in the West Midlands, and Knight transformed the Alexander Stadium into Small Heath, an area in the south-east of England’s second-largest city featuring factories, pubs, and rows upon rows of Victorian terraced housing for the working class.

Queen Elizabeth II, Head of the Commonwealth, was not in attendance at the Opening Ceremony, and will not be at any of the events at the Commonwealth Games this year, we were told.

However, her eldest son, Prince Charles, Prince of Wales and heir apparent to the British throne, represented The Queen at the opening ceremony, and delivered the ceremonial Commonwealth Games message on her behalf.

Both Allicock and Abrams expressed delight at not only carrying out the duties of parading the flag, but joining the other 72 nations within the Commonwealth.

Meanwhile, on Day One of the competition today, the Swimmers, Squash and Table Tennis players representing Guyana will be in action.

Squash will see Mary Fung-A-Fat, Ashley Khalil, Shomari Wiltshire and Jason-Ray Khalil all doing action in the singles event.

Over in Table Tennis, Guyana’s men’s team is down to play host nation England, and Bangladesh, while the women will come up against Fiji and South Africa.

In swimming, with her sights set on resetting a few national records, and making the required time for qualification to the Paris 2024 Olympics, Aleka Persaud will dive into the pool in the women’s 100 metres butterfly.

Paul Mahaica and Shekel Tzedeq will also feature on Day One of swimming in the men’s 50m butterfly and 100m backstroke, respectively.

The following is the full list of Guyanese athletes at the Commonwealth Games:

TABLE TENNIS:
Men: Shemar Britton (Singles, Doubles, Team, Mixed Doubles); Christopher Franklin (Singles, Doubles, Team, Mixed Doubles); Johnathan Van Lange (Singles, Doubles, Team, Mixed Doubles); and Joel Alleyne (Doubles, Team).

Women: Chelsea Edghill (Singles, Doubles, Team, Mixed Doubles); Natalie Cummings (Singles, Doubles, Team, Mixed Doubles); Priscila Greaves (Singles, Doubles, Team); and Thuraia Thomas (Doubles, Team, Mixed Doubles).

SWIMMING:
Men: Paul Mahaica (50m Butterfly, 50m Freestyle, 100m Butterfly, 100m Freestyle); and Sekhel Tzedeq (50m Backstroke, 50m Freestyle, 100m Backstroke, and 100m Freestyle).

Women: Patrice Mahaica (50m Backstroke, 50m Freestyle, 100m Freestyle); and Aleka Persaud (50m Butterfly, 50m Freestyle, 100m Butterfly, and 100m Freestyle).

SQUASH:
Men: Jason-Ray Khalil (Singles, Doubles, Mixed Doubles); and Shomari Wiltshire (Singles, Doubles, Mixed Doubles).

Women: Ashley Khalil (Singles, Doubles, Mixed Doubles); and Mary Fung-A-Fat (Singles, Doubles, Mixed Doubles).

BOXING: Keevin Allicock (Featherweight), Desmond Amsterdam (Middleweight), and Colin Lewis (Welterweight).

BADMINTON:
Men: Narayan Ramdhani (Singles, Mixed Doubles)
Women: Priyanna Ramdhani (Single, Mixed Doubles)
CYCLING: Christopher Griffith (Time Trial, Road Race)