Latest update January 18th, 2025 7:00 AM
Powerlifters depart for South American Championships
-Minister of Agriculture promises to help Rahim
Two powerlifters, Vijai Rahim and ‘Big’ John Edwards will departed Guyana this morning to represent their homeland in Cali, Colombia in the 2012 South American Men’s and Women’s Powerlifting and Bench Press Championship which commences tomorrow and concludes on August 19.
Both powerlifters in an interview with Kaieteur Sport yesterday indicated that they are confident and ready for their challengers in the Championship which has intense rivalry.
John Edwards and Vijai Rahim
Rahim will be attempting to create history in his category, Junior 59kg Class, while the ‘Big man’, Edwards will be looking to outclass his competitors in the Masters M1 40-50 years 120kg Class.
Rahim, the current Commonwealth record holder of dead lift (225kg) boldly stated that he will be breaking the dead lift record at the Championship. Guyana will be making a first appearance at the championship as well.
The twenty years old athlete of Indian descent continued by saying that he missed the last record at the Caribbean Championship last March in St. Thomas, USVI, “I missed the last record at the Caribbean Championship but I will be breaking the dead lift record again and hopefully the squat record which stands at 210kg.”
The double Caribbean gold medalist, who has all of the National Junior records (Guyana), will also be attempting to shatter the bench press Caribbean record as he ventures to qualify for the World Games, “My 245 pounds lift during my training sessions should be enough to break the record,” he said confidently.
The talent young man, who is a Cane Harvester, experienced a few difficulties in securing adequate training time, “My job takes a lot out of me. I work in the field at the Blairmont Sugar Estate and after working all of those hours I would hardly have the energy for the sport which requires a lot.”
The good news is that the Minister of Agriculture, Leslie Ramsammy, according to Rahim vowed to give him a better job which will allow him to train better and ease the strain he usually experiences, “The Minister of Agriculture promised to give me a better job that will suit my sport career.”
The President of the Federation, Peter Green, who will be accompanying the two athletes, disclosed that Rahim is one of two Berbicians who holds the Junior Commonwealth Powerlifting records. The other, Anis Ade-Thomas recently returned from the North American Regional Championship with a silver medal in the Junior 83kg Class. Ade-Thomas also copped a bronze medal in the Men category.
Rahim presently ranks at number 21 in the Men’s Open Category and number 9 in the Junior Category worldwide.
He also revealed that John Edwards, a hall of fame weightlifter, will be writing the International Powerlifting Federation (IPF) referee examination.
Green in closing firmly stated that his goal for Powerlifting will be to develop the athletes, “My goal is to keep developing the athlete.”
Meanwhile, Rahim would like to express his gratitude to his sponsor who covered most of his expenses for the Championship.
The opening ceremony will commence on Thursday. (Juanita Hooper)
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