GAPF names strong team for triple championships

The Guyana Amateur Powerlifting Federation (GAPF) has named a strong team of lifters to commence preparations for participation in three international events, which will be held simultaneously later this year.
From July 1-7 in Orlando, Florida, USA, the 14th annual IPF/NAPF/FESUPO Pan American Regional championships, the 11th annual IPF/NAPF North American Regional championships and the seventh annual IPF/NAPF Caribbean championships will be staged.

The new format will see one lift in each category being equivalent to three titles, meaning a title for each championship with one lift.
The GAPF, in a press statement, said the new format “represents a golden opportunity for the country’s powerlifters, as the expenses normally associated with attending three separate championships have now been combined into one single event.”

To ensure maximum participation at the one-week event, the GAPF has identified 11 male lifters and two females to begin preparation. Three officials and four reserves have also been named.
The male lifters are Gumendra Shewdas (53kg Sub-junior); Suraj Shewdas (59kg Junior); Vijai Rahim (66kg Junior/Open); Winston Stoby (74kg Open/Masters 2); Paul Adams (74kg Open); Randolph Morgan (83kg Open); Anis Ade Thomas (83kg Open); Nairanjan Singh (83kg Masters 3); Karel Mars (105kg Open); John Edwards (120kg Open) and Colin Chesney (120kg Open).
Dawn Barker (84+kg Open) and Kimberley Mars-Loncke (84kg Open) are the females identified for the championship, while Fabian Ketwaroo (66kg Junior); Kelvin Lewis (66kg Open); Rudolph Blackman (74kg Junior/Open); and Marvin Richards (105kg Open) are the reserves.

IPF Category II referees, John Edwards and Edwin Spencer, have been selected as coaches for the trip, while their assistant will be NAPF scorer, Emmanuel Livan.
The GAPF said those lifters selected were asked to contact the Federation no later than April 3 with details of their travel documents, so as to ensure that their visas are processed in a timely manner.
“Guyana is the defending Caribbean Men’s team champions. This year’s championships are definitely going to be extremely tough with the inclusion of the combined events. The six elite athletes named are expected to lead the team’s assault on the gold medals, as well as improve on their 2012 international rankings,” the GAPF release concluded.
The elite athletes are G Shewdas, Rahim, Stoby, Morgan, Edwards and Barker.