…GBA congratulates young boxers

IN the wake of Guyana’s ground-breaking debut at the World Junior Boxing Championships in Yerevan, Armenia, rising talents Tiquan Sampson and Akeelah Vancooten have achieved notable world rankings, marking a significant milestone for junior boxers in the region.
Vancooten has secured the ninth position globally in the 54-57 kg featherweight division, while Sampson has attained the 17th global ranking in the 57–60 kg lightweight category.

Steve Ninvalle, President of the Guyana Boxing Association (GBA), commented, “The accomplishments of these emerging pugilists on the local and regional stage underscore the importance and commitment the association places on its nursery and youth divisions.”
Ninvalle added, “This is a historic milestone; while we have previously achieved international rankings for seniors, this is the first time we have accomplished such a feat with junior boxers, marking a significant moment in our debut at the junior world championships.”

He emphasised, “The GBA remains dedicated to its developmental initiatives, recognising the importance of laying a strong foundation for sports growth and overall sustainability. This necessitates a structured approach, with a key focus on the collaboration of local programmes and participation in regional and international competitions.”
The World Junior Championships, previously held eight years ago in St. Petersburg, Russia, for men, and Chinese Taipei for women, featured 13 weight divisions for both junior men and women. Notably, Guyana’s team included the experienced trainer Lennox Daniels.