Boxing standout, Keevin Allicock has been awarded the Olympic Solidarity Athlete Scholarship by the International Olympic Committee to aid in his ambition to compete for Team Guyana at the Tokyo 2021 Olympic Games.
The top brass of the Guyana Olympic Association (GOA) made the presentation to Allicock who is ranked 19th in the world in the bantamweight division yesterday at its headquarters at Liliendaal.
The monthly Olympic Solidarity funding, which is worth US$500, is a welcome boost to the 21 year-old and will help to ensure he has access to the necessary training and preparation in an effort to qualify for the Tokyo Olympic Games next year.
President of the GOA, K Juman-Yassin stated that the 2017 Commonwealth Youth Games silver medalist, was “worthy’ to be a recipient of the scholarship since Allicock is a “top Olympic prospect.”
Once Allicock qualifies for the Olympic Games, the scholarship will run until August 21, 2021 said treasurer of the association, Garfield Wiltshire. However, if Allicock fails to qualify for the games, the scholarship will end following the qualifiers.
The Olympic qualifiers for the Americas is scheduled to be held in May next year in Argentina.
President of the Guyana Boxing Association (GBA), Steve Ninvalle said that he was confident that Allicock can clinch an Olympic berth.
“This scholarship will provide assistance in training leading up to the qualifiers and the Olympics. Keevin will now be able to focus entirely on boxing, this is something that we have wanted for quite sometime.”
He added “It would go a long way in preparing Mr. Allicock for the Olympic qualifiers and I would say by extension, the Olympic Games.”
Allicock echoed similar sentiments, stating that the scholarship paves the way for him to be 100% focused on boxing. He thanked the GOA and said the scholarship “means a lot” to him and he feels it is a “blessing” which will enable him to return from the Games with a medal.
Allicock’s coach, Sebert Blake told those gathered that he will do his best to ensure that his charge is successful on his quest to climb the podium steps at the prestigious Summer Games.
