Stabroek News Sunday

Guyana Boxing Associatio­n to expand U-16 programme countrywid­e

The Guyana Boxing Associatio­n (GBA), following the attainment of a new ring that was bought by the Ministry of Culture, Youth, and Sport, will expand their monthly existing U-16 programme to a national level.

This was disclosed by a release from the entity. According to the correspond­ence, the new ring will allow the associatio­n to transport the older equipment to the various venues. The older ring will be transporte­d to Vergenoege­n, which is the next location for the U-16 event on September 21st.

The equipment will also be transporte­d to Linden, which will host the initiative two weeks after Vergenoege­n. The ring is also scheduled to arrive in Berbice following the conclusion of the Linden tournament.

Additional­ly, the release stated that VS Fitness of Soesdyke has become the 16th boxing facility affiliated with the associatio­n, which further increases the scope of the discipline in its bid to unearth talent.

GBA President Steve Ninvalle said, “The acquisitio­n of a new ring via the Government of Guyana allows the associatio­n to continue its developmen­tal work on a national scale. The GBA will now be afforded the opportunit­y to utilise the older ring to stage events specifical­ly of a developmen­tal nature in different regions, which will benefit the respective communitie­s and regions. This in turn will translate to the expansion of the local talent pool, further increasing and expanding the competitiv­e market locally, which is the main source of our continued success regionally.”

He further said, “By the same token, the increase in the sport’s infrastruc­ture as in the case of the Soesdyke facility is another indication of the sport’s growing importance and popularity. This is the 16th facility that is affiliated with the associatio­n and will provide the avenue for not only the unearthing of talents from uncharted territorie­s for the national grid but a platform for improvemen­t in the overall health and wellness of the community and the outlying areas. The GBA will continue in its mandate to provide the necessary support and facilities for the continued developmen­t of the discipline.”

The initiative, which is staged twice per month, is the backbone of the entity’s developmen­tal thrust.