Boxer Michael Alexander gave T&T something to cheer about as he is in line to win this country’s first medal at the Pan American Games in Lima, Peru. The only question is what colour will it be?
on Monday at the Miguel Grau Coliseum, Alexander defeated Costa Rican Eduardo Sanchez, winning on points, 3-1 in their men’s light welterweight (64 kg) quarterfinal bout.
“This is my first Pan American Games and I have won the first medal for T&T for boxing. This is nostalgic right now I am feeling so happy,” said Alexander after the entertaining win, which saw go down in the closing minutes of the first round and was recorded as a knockdown and lose a point in the third and final round for a warning.
“Yes, I slipped but sometimes if it looks too close the referee does call an eight-count just for you to recuperate so its not necessarily a knockdown.
“I did what my coach Mr Reynold Cox said to win the first round and try to make it as easy as possible don’t try to waste any energy, kick-off from the second round and go all out in the third round and that’s what I did,I listened to my corner and listening to my corner I came out successful.”
Fighting out of the blue corner, Alexander was energetic and hyped up the crowd which included chef de mission Diane Henderson, from start, leaping over the top rope to enter the ring after the announcer introduced the T&T boxer.
“I was ready,” said Alexander on his chosen means of getting into the ring. “This is my first Pan American Games, its go all out or nothing so went in with a bang one time.”
He moves on to the semifinal today and will face American boxer Keyshawn Davis in the evening session 8.45 pm (T&T) time.
“It was a good experience and a good performance from me. I need a little more sharpening though,” said Alexander. “This is experience and working towards Olympics 2020 and World Championships that is coming up next month.”
“I was ready. This is my first Pan American Games go all out or nothing so went in with a bang one time.
After press time, Aaron Prince took on Lesther Espino in their men’s middleweight(75kg) quarterfinals bout.
<Badminton>
T&T’s Nikiesha Blake had the daunting task of taking on Mexican Adriano Valero in the women’s round of 32 at Sports Centre 3 and the T&T badminton player was swept, 2-0.
She lost the first set 21-6 and did improved somewhat in the second set but still beaten, 21-12.
<Taekwondo>
At the Callao Sports Centre, Megan Lawrence had no better luck in Taekwondo when she challenged Columbia’s Gloria Mosquero in the women’s over 67kg round of eight matches. The local athlete was outmatched, going down, 22-1 and then lost a the repercharge 15-6 to an American in the repechage to American Madelynn Gorman.
<Shooting>
Hoping to rebound from their disappointing finish in their respective run at the 10m air pistol events, Roger Daniel and Marsha Bullen-Jones were hoping to make amends in the mixed team version of the competition at the Las Palmas Range.
However, it was not to be though as they were unable to finish among the top five shooters who progress to the final round, ending in 22nd spot with a combined score of 729.
Daniel, the 2011 Pan Am silver medallist in the men’s 10m air pistol, had rounds of 94, 95, 90 and 96 to score 375-8x while Bullen-Jones contributed 354-5x (90, 89, 89, 86).
Robert Auerbach Jr and Anthony Maraj finished down the list of participants at the end of day one in the qualification round in men’s trap.
Auerbach enters day two tied in 22nd place with 42, scoring 18 in the first round and producing 24 in the second.
Maraj sits in 31st and last place with 19 (9/10).
On Tuesday, the national men’s hockey team will take the field to challenge Cuba in their opening preliminary match in Pool A.