Goa loses ace archer Snehal to Jharkhand

MAPUSA: Goa’s ace archer, Snehal Divakar who has won laurels for the country, feels let down by the State government who failed to provide basic infrastructure and an apt platform in the sport.

 The Ponda-based athlete is arguably among the best India has produced but the Goan has been forced to train outside the State due to lack of infrastructure.

 Besides wining national competitions, Snehal has also represented India at different international championships in Turkey, Mongolia, Taiwan and China.

 The 23-year-old is currently honing her skills at the Eklavya Archery Academy opened by Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL) in Jharkhand and also winning medals for them.

 She has worked hard, put blood and sweat in making the country proud but has been abandoned by the Goa government. Although Snehal took up the sport in 2009 and won few medals for Goa in the initial years, she made her first international debut only in 2014.

“I was forced to move to Jharkhand because there was no infrastructure here (in Goa). I was practicing at Ponda for four years. I finally got fed up and decided to move out to a place that had the best facilities in archery. It would be nice to come back to Goa if we have the required infrastructure,” said the right-handed archer who is currently in Goa on a short holiday.

Through this academy Snehal has got the opportunity to make her name and selected in the Indian team as Olympic escort in Korea 2015.

“I am the only international archer from Goa and have immense faith in my abilities and skills garnered over the years,” said the girl who is currently pursuing her second year B.P.ED at the Gujarat University.

Snehal also represented the country at the Asian Grand Prix in 2014, earned a slot in the four-member Indian women’s reserve squad at this global tourney with two stages and was ranked 20th. Stage I was held in China, while Stage II was held in Turkey. In 2014, she clinched two gold and a silver medal for Jharkhand at the 36th junior meet held in Assam.

 “I used to visit the Sports Complex in Ponda when I was 14-years-old. Watching ex-Olympian coach Laxmi Priya Devi coaching students, I gained interest in the game because I used to find it very different. Initially I thought it was difficult shooting but later found the techniques and skills very interesting,” she said.

General Secretary of Amateur Archery Association of Goa, Chetan Kavlekar, also believes that Goa has lost a star and said “Archery is picking up in Goa but only lacks basis facilities. Our Goan girl is winning medals for Jharkhand ever since she joined the academy. We have lost out on a star player as we were unable to provide her with basic facilities.”