Barbados Coach fights for a medal of any colour

WUHAN (CHN) - Veteran Barbados boxing coach Figuerado Bowen hopes to repeat his success during his first CISM Military World Games in 2003.

Bowen is in Wuhan with just one boxer, Kimberly Gittens, who will compete in the 69kg division.

This will be his fourth Games as he previously attended the Games in Catania, Italy (2003), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil (2011) and Mungyeong, Korea (2015).

“So far I have only won one medal (as coach) and that was during my first Games in Italy. It was a bronze, but a medal is a medal,” he said. “I am looking for a medal medal here. Kimberly participated in the world and regional championships and Commonwealth Games. But this is a very high-level competition. You have a lot of athletes with Olympic and World Championships experience and the competition will be tough.”

Bowen has been involved in many elite boxing competitions across the globe, but considers the Military Games as “something special.”

“You will meet a lot of people you have previously only read about,” he said. “You get a chance to make friends and those friendships last. Sport can do a lot for people. You find out more about each other. During these moments, it’s not a question of competition anymore but we only get together and enjoy the moments. There is a special bond between these people because they are all from the military.”

Bowen is impressed by the training and competition facilities at Wuhan Sports University Gymnasium, the boxing venue for the Games.

“Everything is great. I went to the Barcelona Olympics in 1992,” he said. “Until now I considered those facilities as the best. But here it is even better. Right now I am just looking forward to starting and winning that first bout.”

The 7th CISM Military World Games boxing competition started today at Wuhan Sports University Gymnasium and the finals will take place on October 25 and 26.

(Source: SUMOC Executive Committee - Editor NIE Yang)