Latest update April 20th, 2024 12:10 AM
Sep 03, 2013 Sports
– hosts luncheon for U-18 World Champ Shewdas & GAPF members
By Franklin Wilson
Minister of Culture Youth and Sport Dr. Frank Anthony and his Permanent Secretary, Alfred King yesterday hosted Guyana’s first Under-18 Sub-Junior Powerlifting Gold Medalist Gumendra ‘The Golden Boy’ Shewdas and the Guyana Amateur Powerlifting Federation (GAPF) to a sumptuous lunch and reception at the New Thriving Restaurant, Water Street, Georgetown.
The occasion was to celebrate and recognize Shewdas’ achievement; he captured Overall and Deadlift Gold at the World Juniors & Sub-Juniors Men’s Championships held in Killeen, Texas, USA, last week.
Minister Anthony boldly stated that his Ministry’s investment in the sport of powerlifting has been paying great dividends and the achievement of Shewdas is indeed a proud moment for all Guyana.
“I think we all can be proud of this young champion and he is an example of what can be achieved if you persevere. Very often we don’t not think of the benefits that sports can bring; most of the times we argue and fight over all kinds of different things but when it comes to putting our country up I think sports is one of those areas where we can really come together as a nation to honour our athletes and identify with their glory.”
Powerlifting, Minister Anthony noted, has been growing over the past couple of years and the ministry would have been happy to make contributions along that journey reminding that his ministry would have bought competition quality weights for the federation which has contributed to their development and achievements.
“Since then I think, all our investments in powerlifting have really paid off. We can really say that the sport has really taken off in Guyana. We are very proud that you’ve been able to host international competitions here, we’re very proud that you’ve been able to participate in several international competitions and at all of those you have always come back with medals.”
The proud minister further stated that with Guyana consistently overpowering the best the Caribbean has to offer in the past few years, our athletes now have to turn their attention to the world stage.
“Even on the world stage, we have seen that our athletes are on par with anything that they have out there and that we can excel. I just want to say that we must not let this kind of victory get to our heads, we must constantly be practicing. We have to think about our developmental programme, our training programmes so that we can now churn out more champions.”
The gathering was reminded that Guyana has now created an expectation that we are now the Caribbean powerhouse in the sport and pressure will be on us to always excel and defend our records so
we cannot take things lightly.
“So I’m very proud of the achievements of the federation but this means that you will have to work even harder going forward.”
Permanent Secretary King said echoed the minister’s sentiments that the glory brought to this nation by Shewdas is shared by all.
King was quick to encourage the athletes present, the cream of Guyana’s best that they need to work hard to keep the sport clean pointing out all that’s been taking place on the Caribbean and world stage in relation to drugs.
“As you would recognize, drawing attention to yourself as the Caribbean powerhouse and getting there on the international stage, you can very well attract for yourselves a similar treatment like you’ll find now in Jamaica where every athlete is being looked at closely and therefore keeping the athlete and sport clean should be something you would want to pay attention to as well.”
President Green in his remarks enforced the notion that it was indeed a proud moment for all present noting that the federation started from humble beginnings in 2008 but has grew in stature ever since in terms of its own achievements at every level.
‘Big’ John Edwards, Winston ‘Little Master’ Stoby (World Masters Deadlift Champion), Randolph ‘The Accomplisher’ Morgan and female Dawn Barker have all kept the Golden Arrowhead flying high, making Guyana the envy of the Caribbean and further afield in the sport.
Green, who has been at the helm of the body, charting its way back to prominence after a lengthy period of dormancy, posited that the achievements of the senior and masters’ athletes have been positively filtering down to, and motivating the younger athletes.
“It’s a very proud moment for me as president; it has been a collaborative effort by all with the Office of the President, the Ministry of Culture Youth and Sport, federation members and sponsors doing their part.”
Shewdas’ Coach Mr. Egbert Jackson, who was described by Green as ‘indefatigable’, also came in for high praise from the federation head for laying the foundation on which Shewdas has been standing.
“On behalf of the federation, I would like to say thank you to Gumendra’s coach, his parents who believed in me and gave their all; they believed in him as I did. Thank you to the Ministry of Sport for listening to my plea.”
In brief remarks, the ‘Golden Boy’ Shewdas said he would like thank everyone for their support, especially his parents – who were also present to share the moment – and his coach for pushing him in the gym.
“I would also like to thank the powerlifting federation and the president for your support as well, thank you.”
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