Five Berbician strongmen on national team for July 1-7 Florida c/ships

Lifters from the Ancient County, Berbice, are set to create history at the 14th annual International Powerlifting Federation (IPF)/North American Powerlifting Federation (NAPF)/FESUPO Pan American championship in Orlando, Florida, from July 1-7.

For the first time, a total of five strongmen from that part of the country will make the national powerlifting team.Four will compete in the junior division, while the other will represent Guyana in the Open category.In the junior division, the Berbicians are Sub-junior 2012 Caribbean champion, Gumendra Shewdas (53kg class and NSC Sports awardee), Vijai Rahim (59kg gold medalist and South American silver medalist)  now campaigning in the 66kg category, Suraj Shewdas (59kg) and Fabian Ketwaroo (66kg).They will also be campaigning in the Junior and Open categories of the seventh IPF/NAPF Caribbean Championships segment, which will be held concurrently.The fifth Berbician, Anis Ade Thomas, has now graduated to the Open category and will be competing in the 83kg class alongside compatriot, Randolph Morgan.According to a correspondence from the Guyana Amateur Powerlifting Federation (GAPF), all the lifters have successfully acquired their United States visas and are seeking sponsorship to make the trip possible.
The GAPF said despite the staging of some fundraising events, “it is still substantially short [of funding] with just over four weeks remaining to ensure it sends the biggest team ever to challenge the best in the Americas.”The GAPF added, “The added fact that the dual championships will be offering two prestigious titles for the lifters from one lift, makes the championships a must-participate event. Guyana Men’s team is the defending Caribbean Open champions with the added bonus of adding the Pan American title to their resume. Individual cost per lifter has been pegged at US$1600.”Meanwhile, president of the GAPF, Peter Green, reiterated his confidence in the national junior/senior teams keeping the Golden Arrowhead aloft internationally.He is also appealing to the corporate/private sector of Berbice to invest collectively or individually in sponsoring the home grown athletes as they embark on representing their county and country overseas.Green has identified Rahim and G Shewdas as Guyanese latest world rated lifters, whom will be given the added bonus of attending the World Sub-Juniors/Junior Championship in Killeen, Texas, in August should they win their weight categories at the Caribbean and Pan American levels.