Latest update April 7th, 2025 12:08 AM
2013 was fairly successful year for Judo – GJA President
When the new executive of the Guyana Judo Association (GJA) were elected to office in March the Association was in disarray.
Now, nine months later President of the GJA Raaul Archer described 2013 as a fairly successful one for the Association despite being able to hold only one competition for the year.
Members of the Kitty Jamaat Dojo after a training session.
Archer attended the International Judo Federation (IJF) Congress in Rio, Brazil in September and when he returned he meet with Guyana’s Sports Minister Dr Frank Anthony.
According to Archer, at the October meeting with the Parliamentarian, the Sports Minister expressed a willingness to assist the GJA once they put their house in order. To this end the GJA is in the process of doing their financial Audit.
The IJF recognizes the GJA as the only governing body for the Sport in Guyana and the Minister give Government’s commitment to purchasing mats which have already been sourced from Kissoon Furniture Store.
The lone competition held was the National Judo Championships in November with Randy Phillips emerging overall Champion. This Championship was held at the North Ruimveldt Multilateral School, while the Grading was also done this year.
Archer disclosed that the Association’s biggest challenge is to spread the sport nation-wide and generate funds to properly run off tournaments locally.
Presently there are no clubs in Berbice or Essequibo. The Bell West Judo Club in West Demerara and the Multilateral Judo Club, the Kitty Jamaat Judo club, the House of Water Judo club, the Rising Sun Judo club and the Kingston Judo club in the city being the only functioning clubs.
The GJA’s General Council Meeting was held on November 20 and a number of important measures were adopted.
“If Corporate Sponsors and the Government come forward we will be able to produce possible Gold Medals at the 2016 Olympics in Brazil. Our three International Judokas…. Hamza Eastman, who is also a National Cyclist along with Delroy Murphy and Raul Lall are already earmarked and with Government support and proper preparation, could medal at the next Olympics,” Archer opined.
Archer said Judo is the third highest ranked Sport in the Olympics behind athletics and Swimming, adding that anyone interested in Judo can contact the President on telephone number 610-3536 or GJA Treasurer Hilbert Archer on telephone number 613-0260. Children under-18 requires their parent’s permission. Ghees (training outfits) are also available for sale from any executive of the GJA.
The GJA thanked their main sponsors Khan’s Auto Sales, Sankar’s Automotive, Akbar Auto Sales and Samaroo’s Investments.
Meanwhile, results from the National Championships are as follows:
Open: Randy Phillips (winner), Kelbert Archer (2nd), Erskine Trotman (3rd)
78KG: Delroy Murphy (winner), Amir Eastman (2nd), Compton Simon (3rd)
Heavyweight: Terrence Williams (winner), Winell Azeez (2nd)
Women: Gada Silvia (Winner), Lisa Andrews (2nd) (Sean Devers)
Similar Articles
THE BLUNT OF THE DAY
Sports
Features/Columnists
Anticipation without preparation
Peeping Tom… Kaieteur News- The Vice President of Guyana, ever the sagacious observer of the inevitable, has reassured... more
The U.S. “Joining” the Commonwealth: an unreasonable expectation
By Sir Ronald Sanders Kaieteur News- Recent media stories have suggested that King Charles III could “invite” the United... more
Weekend Cartoon
