The Guyana contingent at the 2002 Commonwealth Games in Manchester,
England, will begin their quest for medals today in three disciplines. The
Games were officially opened yesterday.
Nicolette Fernandes, Luke Fraser and Regan Pollard are all expected to be
in action at the National Squash Centre, England, when first round action
in the ladies and men’s singles get underway from 7.30 a.m. local time.
Over at the Forum Centre, Wythenshawe, Guyana’s 2001 Caribbean amateur
featherweight champion Rudolph Fraser, will be involved in the
featherweight preliminary round competition, while at the City of
Manchester Stadium, United States based athlete Aliann Pompey is expected
to do battle in the first round of the women’s 400-metre which begins at
3.45p.m., local time.
Fernandes as well as Luke Fraser will be making their debut at this level
of competition. Pollard on the other hand, attended the 1998 Commonwealth
Games in Malaysia, but was knocked out in the first round.
This will also be Rudolph Fraser’s debut at this level.
Pompey, a semi-finalist at last year’s World Champion-ships in Canada,
recorded her personal best time of 51.69 seconds for the 400-metre, at the
Harry Jerome Classic meet in Canada, during the month of June.
Tomorrow, Guyana’s two-man rifle team - Ransford Goodluck and Mahendra
Persaud - will be in action at the Bisley, Surrey Rifle Ranges, when the
pairs competition gets underway from 6am local time.
Both Goodluck and Persaud have been in fine form recently, having just
come off the Queen’s Golden Jubilee meet at the same venue (Bisley). At
that meet, Goodluck recorded 222 points with 21 V’s in capturing the LVA
Communications `O’ Class title. Goodluck carted off 23 bronze bars at the
meet while Persaud captured 16.
Tomorrow also, Theophilus Blue, Guyana’s heavyweight boxing entry at the
Games will be in action at the Forum Centre, Wythenshawe.