Pan Am boxing team determined to return with medals

With the Pan American Junior Games slated to commence later this week, Guyana’s three-member boxing team is Colombia-bound with high expectations for the event.

For the past month or so, Alesha Jackman, Travis Inverary and Patrick Harvey have been training locally in preparation for the first-ever Junior Pan American Games.
The camp was the brainchild of the Guyana Boxing Association (GBA), and received the full support of the Guyana Olympic Association (GOA). Taking the reins at the camp were coaches Sebert Blake and Terrence Poole, who are no strangers to the three teenagers.
The trio of boxers spoke with Guyana Times Sport about their training, which they all found favourable.
“It was alright. Our Coach, Mr Sebert Blake, he was like pushing we forward and motivating us towards the goal. So, it was alright,” Inverary began.
The lone female in the group, Alesha Jackman, added, “Tough but great, because, as they say, what you take in is what you give out. He’s been there giving us the work, and I surely know it will give out.”
“Well, far as preparation, for the past month we’ve been training very hard with Coach Blake. So, preparation was alright. Everybody motivates each other, so I think that’s the biggest thing,” Patrick Harvey said in adding his two cents.
The Pan American Junior Games will see competitors from across the Caribbean, Central, South and North American regions, opponents that most young boxers are familiar with. With Coach Poole already expressing faith in the team bringing back medals, the same was echoed by the group.
“Most obviously we’re going for the goal, so it’s [the expectation] definitely to come back with a medal,” Inverary said, in sharing his expectations.
Jackman is looking to execute new strategies that she has picked up from old opponents. “Last year, I was the only boxer that had a fight, and I fought a girl from England. I learned a lot. Most of the time I fought girls from the Caribbean. Normally, if I fight a person from the Caribbean, I would be the one that (is) being more aggressive, she teach me that no matter how you cuffing and punching, these girls will still be coming to you. So, my coach teach me the strategy of what I have to do.”
However, Jackman also has her eye on the medals. She
disclosed, “My expectation is going there, putting my country on the map, and bringing home a gold medal and making my mom and everyone else proud.”
Harvey’s answer on the topic was short and precise.
“Everybody’s been training hard enough, as equal, so I’m very confident, cause we’ve been putting in the work,” he commented.
The Pan Am Junior Games will commence this Thursday, November 25, and run until Sunday, December 5. The boxers will be accompanied in Cali, Colombia by Coach Terrence Poole. Guyana’s delegation currently consists of 30 persons, inclusive of coaches, officials and athletes across 7 sporting disciplines.