The biggest ever multi-sport event in the country will be held in Goa this month from October 26. Around 10,000 plus athletes will participate in 43 events to win honours for themselves and their States. Goans will hope its athletes do not disappoint and end up tagging the bottom end of the medal tally. The State government has spent approximately Rs 450 crores creating the infrastructure for the games. However the sports administration in the State seem to be quite focussed on ensuring that once the games are done, Goa will not be left with egg on its face. They seem quite positive about the possibility of Goa winning medals.
Gurudutt Bhakta secretary of the Goa Olympic Association was categorical when he said Goa would win many more medals than what the contingent managed in Gujarat. When asked what was the reason for his confidence he said we will win a medal in squash, one medal in rowing, with Gayle Miranda having done well in international competition, he expected her to win at the National games. He expressed his confidence in the taekwondo contingent winning medals. He said, “We usually get 4 to 7 medals and I expect the same this time too. The Netball team seems good, hoping to get a medal here. We expect medals from Yoga, Badminton. It will also depend on the form that day.”
When contacted the secretary of the Goa Volleyball Association, Hugo Gonsalves was very confident when he said, “Beach volleyball will medals for sure. We will win the gold and the silver in the men’s category. In the women’s it will be tough but we will put up a good fight. We have not taken advantage of the 70:30 rule. We have only elected Goans to the squad. We our Goans to get the opportunity to show their capability. Our team selection will be decided by the coaches”. They will decide whether it will be the tried and tested duo of Aaron Pereira and Ram Dhawaskar partnering or of Nitin Sawant will partner Ram.
Sandeep Heble the secretary of the Goa Badminton Association sounded quite optimistic when asked if one could expect medals from Badminton. He said with Anura Prabhudesai ranked 16 in the country, they were very optimistic about winning medals in the single and doubles events. Sandeep said he was hopeful of individual medals. With regards to the men he said he expected them to do well in the team championship. According to him the team have worked very hard and seemed confident of doing well.”
The mother of all sports, athletics usually garners a great deal of attention in any multi-event championship. The fortunes of Manikanta Hoblidhar the national record holder in the 100 metres will be watched closely. Goans would like to see their own folk doing well on the tracks. Sharendra Naik the secretary of the Goa Athletic Association said the state would win 7 to 8 medals in middle and long distance races. He said, “We have 11 outstanding athletes from the army who are with us. They performed well in the senior nationals recently in Bengaluru though none of them won medals. If they win medals then the army keeps them for their own team”. When asked which specific event he expected medals, he said the association expected medals from the 1,500 metres, 5,000 metres, 10,000 metres and 3,000 steeple chase in the men’s category. In the women’s section he expected 2 medals in the 3,000 metres steeple chase and 5,000 metres. Training he said was coming along fine in Fatorda in the morning and on the synthetic track in Bambolim in the afternoon. From the world of speed to the world of the big men and women. Individuals who can lift huge weights, weightlifting. Jayesh Naik the secretary of the association said he expected two medals from the army men based at the Army sports Institute. They were based in Goa for the past or 6 years. Goa it can said is expected to win medals in sailing. Katya Coelho who experienced disappointment when her name disappeared from the list of athletes selected for the recently held Asian games is expected to win gold along with her brother in the IQFoil category. This race will make its debut in the Nationals this year.
It is obvious that after all the investment made the State will win a few medals.