“Polished female boxers on the horizon” – Ninvalle
Guyana Boxing Association (GBA) President Steve Ninvalle is of the view that female boxers are steadily improving to deal with the new demands of the International Olympic Committee (IOC).
Ahead of the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games, IOC had requested that the International Boxing Association (AIBA) increase the number of female divisions and decrease the male. Though the request was met with strong opposition on the basis of decreasing the male divisions, there is the inevitability an increased surplus in female boxers will be needed.
Also an AIBA Executive Member, Ninvalle was questioned on how can Guyana
Young Julicia Rodney is being touted as future star for the sport
meet those demands in the not so distant future.
“AIBA has more or less amended its constitution for women to be included in the executive; it says we realize the importance of having women in all of our departments; in every confederation there must be at least one executive committee member who is female,” he explained.
But on the local scene he revealed Social Cohesion Minister Dr George Norton who has responsibility for sport has been leading the charge in the both the decentralisation and inclusion of females in the spot. “Minister Norton has been instrumental in the decentralising of boxing; he would have singlehandedly supported the creation of [Savannah Boxing] gym in Region Nine.”
That gym participated in the Pepsi Michael Parris Under-16 competition where Julicia Rodney won a gold medal. Rodney is also slated to fight at Saturday’s Patrick Ford Memorial Open being held at the National Gymnasium.
Norton sent coach Orland Rogers to Region Nine for a two-week stint who has continued to extend his reach by developing a gym in Mabaruma (Region One) which according to Ninvalle has “at least eight females participating.” “In another five months or so we will see a new crop of females, some are already there but we will see a crop of polished female boxers coming from region nine and from Mabaruma and they will not stop there since Rogers will continue going around the country,” the GBA head posited. Since the 2012 Summer Olympics, women’s boxing became part of its programme and it is understood apart from wrestling boxing has the lowest female participating at the Games.
