Magic boxers want a real gym

And recently coach Dimitri Stroude and his wife Sharma have called for assistance to replace the one-room garage that they use for a gym. Under Stroude (Dimitri) — a former National boxer and trainer and his wife Sharma who is also a top amateur referee and member of the Trinidad and Tobago Boxing Board (TTBB), the gym continues to be a way out for many young men and women in the Carenage and environs area.

The Stroudes reminded all that it is not only about being coaches but also being parents to many youths who are in need of it in West, Trinidad.

“We listen to them when they have something to say and then we give them advice because they are our children and we love them all,” Sharma said.

The Stroudes only concern is to get a proper gym where proper training can be conducted and the young budding boxers can be safe from the elements that are destroying the fabric of the society. At the gym on Smith Hill, the young boxers are exposed to exhaust fumes from vehicles that use the area to turn after making drop-offs of passengers. There is also no secured area to place bags and others earnings while shelter is also a problem, as the single room cannot hold the amount of boxers that enjoy the training of the Stroudes.

In fact, the gym is so small that boxers usually have to train in the road which is interrupted by passing vehicles.

They are calling on the authorities to help them quickly as they continue to perform yoeman service to the nation.

Since their inception in 2008 the gym has won the “Gym of the Year” award after every national championship held so far. This year the gym performed magic by claiming victory in the Women’s Welterweight division through rising talent Ingle Charles while an equally talented Jenna Belgrave secured the bronze in that category.

There were also gold medals for Akmal Stroude (46kg) and Gerald Narine in the Super Heavyweight division. The club also got medals from Arshad Fabien (silver) in the light flyweight; Delano Cklarke (bronze) in the welterweight; Shakir Garcia (silver) in bantamweight and Ricardo Gittens who earned bronze medal in the novice category.

Newsday understands that Charles (Jenna) and Belgrave have been the fear of many female boxers at some of the more recognised boxing gyms such as the Sand City Boxing Emporium and Cosmic. They have won all that there is to compete for, in only the two years they have been in the sport and the girls have said that they want more to look forward to. They are currently eyeing the World Boxing Championships and Olympic qualifiers for 2016.

Coach Stroude (Dimitri) said he has endured a number of challenges during the club’s short existence that made him feel to give up. He explained further that he had to remind himself of the contributions the club has been making for the youth and the country.

At the awards ceremony for the National championship at the VIP Lounge of the Hasely Crawford Stadium last month, eyebrows were raised when national coach Reynold Cox was given the coach of the year award, though Magic had been the most outstanding gym.

He revealed that attempts have been made in the past to prevent his gym from winning. “It hurts some times when you are working really hard to train the youths and then for officials to take it away from them like that. It’s not only unfair for us but to the many young people who have been seeing ways out through the boxing,” Stroude (Dimitri) said.