Manswell books ticket to Athens

TRINIDAD and Tobago's leading amateur boxer Kertson Manswell has received safe passage to next year's Olympic Games boxing competition in Athens, Greece. News of this development was relayed to the Trinidad and Tobago Olympic Committee (TTOC) yesterday.

It came from the International Amateur Boxing Association Bureau of the Americas headed by President Domingo B Solano. However Solano stated the automatic qualification is only applicable to the Tobago-born heavyweight and is not transferable to any other Trinidad and Tobago athlete hoping to atend the Games. According to TTOC President Douglas Camacho, news of Manswell's qualification justifies the selection of the the triple medallist Commonwealth, Central American and Caribbean and PanAm Games for special assistance leading up to the quadrennial sports showpiece. "Kertson's discipline and focus along with the added support of the Ministry of Sport and Youth Affairs and his well-wishers are sure to provide him with a very real chance of capturing an elusive Olympic medal," Camacho said. Manswell is the national title-holder as well as the Caribbean Amateur Boxing Association champion. He was given a special preference after his strong showing at the Pan American Games in Santo Domingo recently. It is believed to be the first time that a boxer has been so shunted into the Olympic Games.

Normally to qualify for the Olympics, Manswell would have had to win gold in Santo Domingo. But because of his second place showing, he was in the process of preparing for a qualification round to earn a place for Athens. Yesterday, Manswell told i95.5FM Radio that he was elated to have received special consideration and is looking forward to realising his dream of winning a gold medal at the Olympic Games. He told host Andre E Baptiste that he is now closer to what he desires in training and physical fitness as he prepares for his biggest boxing test to date. "I am doing my training daily as the job at the Ministry of Sport and Youth Affairs facilitates my programme," said Manswell yesterday on i95.5FM. Manswell also spoke about the controversial receipt of  keys to a NHA apartment in Morvant. He said yesterday he was well apprised by Ministry of Sport and Youth officials concerning the house which he will occupy and for which he will pay a monthly rent with an option to purchase for close to $105,000. Yesterday the Tobago Boxing Gym slammed the Government for charging Manswell a rent and referred the case to the soon to be established Caribbean Court of Justice. They congratulated Manswell for his achievements but lamented the fact that "in Tobago talent spoils like ripe mangoes dropping from a tree and has never been responsibly cared for. "We lack proper handling from the start and are left to play catch up with strong criticism throughout the years," the media release stated.