A 44-member Guyanese delegation will compete in eight sports at the XIII South American Games Santa Fe 2026, which will be held in Argentina from September 12 to 26.
Competing under the Guyana Olympic Association (GOA), the delegation will participate in athletics, archery, boxing, esports, squash, table tennis, taekwondo and tennis.
The Games will be staged in Rosario, Santa Fe and Rafaela and will feature more than 4,000 athletes from 15 countries competing in 43 sports, 60 disciplines and about 465 medal events.
The Games also form part of Guyana’s qualification and preparation pathway for the 2027 Pan American Games in Lima, Peru, and the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles.
GOA President Godfrey Munroe said the size and range of the delegation reflected the continued development of Guyanese sport.
“The participation of athletes across eight disciplines reflects the growing breadth of Guyanese sport and the determination of our national federations and athletes to compete successfully at the highest regional level,” Munroe said.
“These Games are not only about immediate results; they are an important part of our wider athlete-development and qualification pathway towards the 2027 Pan American Games and the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games.”
Munroe said the GOA will continue working with national federations, athletes, coaches, government and other partners to support the delegation.
The esports team comprises Khalil Rickford and Dearon Canterbury, with Shoaib Juman-Yassin as coach. Competition runs from September 13 to 16 in Rosario.
Boxing, also from September 13 to 18 in Rafaela, will feature Emmanuel Pompey, Akeelah Vancooten and Shakquain James. Lennox Daniels will serve as coach and deputy chef de mission.
Guyana’s squash team includes Ashley Khalil, Mary Fung-A-Fat and Kirsten Gomes in the women’s competition, and Nicholas Verwey, Daniel Ince, Samuel Ince-Carvalhal and coach Ray Chan-A-Sue in the men’s competition. Squash runs from September 21 to 26 in Rosario.
Table tennis will also be held in Rosario from September 21 to 26. Shemar Britton, Elishaba Johnson, Niran Bissu and Colin Wong will compete in the men’s competition, while Chelsea Edghill represents Guyana in the women’s event.
Professional tennis player Sachia Vickery will make her debut for Guyana at the Games. She will be coached by Federico Rodriguez. Tennis competition is scheduled for September 21 to 26 in Rosario.
Taekwondo will feature Ceili Peterson, with Carlos Amezcua as coach, from September 23 to 25 in Rosario.
The athletics team, which competes from September 22 to 26 in Santa Fe, includes Leslain Baird in the javelin; Onesie Dunn in the 100m and 4x100m relay; Akeem Stewart in the 100m and 4x100m relay; Shamar Horatio in the 200m and 4x100m relay; and Tishawn Easton in the 200m, 4x100m relay, 4x400m relay and mixed 4x400m relay.
Simeon Adams will contest the 400m, 4x400m relay and mixed 4x400m relay, while Revon Williams will compete in the 400m, 4x100m relay, 4x400m relay and mixed 4x400m relay.
Akeelah Dover will contest the mixed 4x400m relay, Kenisha Phillips will compete in the 200m, 400m and mixed 4x400m relay, and Jamal Clarke will compete in the 4x400m and mixed 4x400m relays. Lloyd McCurdy will compete in the triple jump. Mark Scott is the athletics coach and deputy chef de mission.
Archery competition runs from September 22 to 25 in Rosario, with Devin Persaud Permaul, Mehandra Chatargum and Trevaughn Waldron representing Guyana. Ryan McKinnon is the coach.
The medical team comprises physiotherapists Kelly Coonjah and Atavia Johnson, while Osafa Dos Santos will serve as chef de mission.
The GOA will also be represented at ODESUR meetings and official engagements by Vice-President Cristy Campbell and Secretary General Vidushi Persaud-McKinnon.
The GOA has described 2026 as a demanding multi-sport year, with the Association supporting Guyanese delegations at several regional and international competitions. Collectively, those programmes have involved more than 400 athletes and officials across more than 12 sporting disciplines.
The Association has extended its best wishes to the delegation as the athletes prepare to compete in Argentina.
