Latest update May 12th, 2024 12:59 AM
Sep 10, 2013 Sports
He has performed credibly even amongst world renowned lifters and for his efforts, Gumendra Shewdas copped gold in the 53kg Class to become Guyana’s youngest weightlifting world champion when he competed at the World Junior and Sub-Junior Powerlifting Championships in Killeen, Texas, U.S.A. recently.
To this effect, officials of the Indian Arrival Committee (IAC) joined several government Ministers in Berbice last Saturday evening at the Tejmohall Roof Gardens, Corriverton, Berbice where Minister of Natural Resources, Robert Persaud, presented the lad with a plaque while officials from the Guyana Bank for Trade and Industry (Springlands) and those from the IAC presented him with a cheque for an undisclosed amount and $500,000 respectively.
Several other government officials were also present including Region 6 Chairman, Mr. David Armogan, former Region 6 Chairman and General Secretary of the PPP, Mr. Zulfikar Mustapha, MP, Faizal M. Jaffarally and other IAC members including Neaz Subhan and Evan Radhay Persaud.
Mr. Armogan lauded the achievement even as he reminisced on other great performances from other sports stalwarts the likes of Shivnarine Chanderpaul and Ramnaresh Sarwan among others. “This is a first for Guyana and I am confident that this young man will go on to procure many similar accolades,” exhorted Armogan. He further noted that the entire country should be proud of the athlete’s achievement even as he dubbed him a role model for other weightlifters.
Meanwhile, Minister of Health, Leslie Ramsammy hailed Shewdass ‘Guyana’s new national hero’ while saying that he is a prime candidate for a gold medal in the imminent 2016 Brazil Olympiad should the sport feature. “I believe that our best chance of this accolade is possible and we should work to ensure that when this becomes an Olympics sports, that Guyana field a team of powerful power lifters the likes of Gumendra,” he said.
Minister Persaud praised Gumendra but pointed out that he did not do it alone. The Minister recognized the efforts of the coach, Egbert Jackson and dubbed the union ‘a partnership for unity.’ Persaud urged Guyanese to draw lessons from Gumendra’s experience and victory saying that Guyanese can overcome challenges while rising to the top, nationally and internationally.
In response, Gumendra thanked his many benefactors and said that he could not have made it without the support of his family, coach and team members and the Corriverton community. The Upper Corentyne Chambers of Commerce and Industry (UCCCI) will also host the champion at a special dinner later this month.
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