By Jemima Holmes
Eight sporting disciplines, namely athletics, badminton, boxing, rugby, swimming, table tennis, taekwondo and squash, will be represented by Guyana at this year’s Pan American Games, slated for Lima, Peru from July 26 to August 11.
The 42-member contingent will comprise both athletes and officials, with at least one manager or coach accompanying each participating athlete.
President of the Guyana Olympic Association, K.A. Juman-Yassin, while not trying to pressure the Guyanese contingent, has expressed hope that one or more participants would bring home a medal to the ‘Land of Many Waters’.
“I’m hoping that our players will compete well. I’m hoping for medals, but the important thing is for each athlete to do their best. It’s for each athlete to see in their mind that they could win, for each of them to picture themselves on that podium. Unless they do that, it’s not going to happen,” Juman-Yassin stated.
Meanwhile, various coaches are optimistic about their athletes’ chances. For instance, Coach Julian Edmonds, who is responsible for the track and field team consisting of Winston George, Aliyah Abrams, Brenessa Thompson, Emmanuel Archibald and possibly Jania McCalmont, explained that the team is a strong one that has been working continuously.
“So, the team, it’s a good team. It’s one with everybody on top of their game, and we’re hoping to well,” Edmonds explained.
Meanwhile, table tennis has a lone contender in Chelsea Edghill, who is currently training in Portugal. Her local coach, Idi Lewis, shared some aspects of her preparations leading up to the tough competition.
“Right now she’s in Portugal, she’s training like 6 hours a day, sometimes 6 days a week. I’m constantly in touch with her, looking at video clips. We talked about some issues she was having in Guatemala at the Qualifiers. I’m expecting good results at the Pan-Am Games, because we’re not going there to participate, we’re going to compete,” Lewis shared.
