Development of amateur boxing highlighted in Parliament

Jan 30, 2011 Sports

During a presentation last week in the current budget debates in Parliament, Parliamentary Secretary (PS) within the Ministry of Culture Youth and Sport, Steve Ninvalle, as part of his presentation highlighted the forward thrust of the sport locally.
Ninvalle, who is also the President of the Guyana Amateur Boxing Association, noted that, “In keeping with the Ministry of Sport’s initiative to decentralize sport in Guyana, several pieces of equipment were handed over to the Guyana Amateur Boxing Association one of which was a new ring.”
“The acquisition of this easily collapsible piece of equipment allowed for boxing, which has won Guyana its lone Olympic medal to date, to be taken to the communities instead of the other way around. Thousands who have never before seen a boxing match much less step into a ring now have the opportunity to do so,” he pointed out.
The PS stated that to complement this, a national boxing coach was employed and he has already started traversing not only Region Four but other Regions scouting for and neutering hidden talents.
As a consequence, Mabaruma, Lethem, the North West District, Paramakatoi, and Kato have been targeted for development programmes.
He informed that, “…the national boxing team to the CAC Games in Puerto Rico may not have returned home with two bronze medals had it not been for the intervention of the Ministry which paved the way for weeks of encampment and providing the services of the national coach to work with the team.”
It was noted, that on the advice of the Minister of Sport the Amateur Boxing Association is currently planning a resuscitation of the Caribbean Boxing Championships which should be held in Guyana this year. Apart from providing high-level and much needed competition for our young fighters, the staging of the competition here paves the way for Guyana’s return to the hierarchy of regional boxing. It also stands to assist in the international rankings of our fighters.
Last week, AIBA accredited Referee/Judge, Trinidadian James Beckles, conducted a four day course aimed at upgrading the skills of the local pool of referees and judges.
They were brought up to speed with advancements in techniques associated with their duties. The participants were encouraged to improve with the aim of officiating not only in local engagements but on the international scene.

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