Injured Barker to miss World Open

TIMES INT'L

By Avenash Ramzan

Guyana’s chances of reaping maximum rewards at the World Open Championship from October 29 to November 4 has been dealt a massive blow, as the phenomenal Dawn Barker has picked up an injury that will keep her out of action for another three weeks.

Dawn Barker on the podium at the Caribbean Championship earlier this year

Barker, the reigning Sports-woman-of- the-Year and Commonwealth record holder in the 84+ kg Class, along with Caribbean record-holder in the 83kg Class, Randolph Morgan, was set to represent Guyana at the event, which is billed for Aguadilla, Puerto Rico.
However, Morgan will be Guyana’s lone lifter at the event, as Barker, who is a teacher, recently injured her knee while having an outdoor session with students at the Watooka Day Nursery School.
“I was having a session with the children and I fell and injured my knee. The doctor said that I should rest it as a precautionary measure, so right now I’m not doing any training and so on, but I’m moving about,” Barker explained.
Barker, who was advised to take six weeks rest, is currently on medication, but is confident of making a comeback before the end of the year.
The Upper Demerara Barbell Gym member is understandably disappointed to miss the World Open, an event she was eagerly looking forward to attend.
“Yes, I’m very much disappointed because I was training really hard in the gym, preparing myself for this championship, but that was not to be,” a dejected Barker told this publication.
Barker has enjoyed a successful 2012, having been recognized as the new Commonwealth record holder at 84+ kg class with a squat of 227.5kgs/ 501lbs in the Caribbean Championship in The Cayman Islands.
Her squat record of 227.5kgs was set in March in the Cayman Islands at the Caribbean Championships where she captured a Gold medal in the Women Open 84+ kg category, as well as the Women’s Open Best Lifter Overall Award.
The injury has also denied Barker an opportunity of competing at the World Games in 2013 in Cali, Colombia, as the top ten lifters in each division at the World Open would automatically qualify for that event.
President of the Guyana Amateur Powerlifting Federation, Peter Green, said Barker’s absence from the World Open is a blow for Guyana, as great things were expected from the Lindener.

Related posts

Comments are closed.