Today is celebrated as National Sports Day in India. Today is the birth anniversary of the country’s greatest hockey player, Major Dhyan Chand. As a hockey player, he helped the country win gold medals in the Olympics in 1928, 1932 and 1936. He scored 400 goals in his total career, from 1926 – 1949, according to his autobiography, ‘Goals’.
He put his stamp on the international hockey arena, having served his country to reach its pinnacles of glory multiple times. He was a legendary figure in Indian and world hockey. The most noted memorials for him were the Major Dhyan Chand Award, the highest award for lifetime achievement in sports and games in India, and the National Sports Day celebrations on his birthday. Major Dhyan Chand learnt the game of hockey from his coach Pankaj Gupta. There is no one who has reached his level in hockey.
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For sports personalities in Goa, it is a day to be nurtured. For Siraj Khan, a member of Goa Police and passionate practitioner of taekwondo, he would like to see a lot of improvement in sports in Goa. He says it is important to value what sports brought to the individual. It should be mandatory in school and colleges. He bemoans the fact that in education, sports ranked pretty low on the ladder. The new generation, he says, should get the benefits of sports. A circular should be released, to ensure they get promotions due to their performances in sporting competition. This he says is relevant for those employed in the public sector. Siraj has been in sports for 25 years. He is a recipient of the Kerkar Award in 2014 which is the highest sports award in the State. He won medals in the last two Nationals. He also qualified for the World Police Games. He is also a practitioner of Pencak Silat.
Sagar Palconda who is the College Director of Physical Education at the Goa College of Agriculture has been a practitioner of Taekwondo since the age of 6. Now 30, he is a 3 Dan. He says he would like to see a professional championship organised by the State association. This would help in his branding and get publicity for the sport. This would help the sport get publicity in schools. Another point he makes is that it is important to have more coaches to run the regular coaching camps. He says, “We need 5 to 6 more coaches. In Quepem, we have a hall but we need coaches, Peddem and Campal have the same problem. If we solve this, it will lead to more participation, which will lead to more competition. That will only help the sport in the State.” Sagar has represented the country in the U-17 Commonwealth Championships held in Chennai. He is also a two time National games medallist, one in Pencak Silat in which he won a bronze and another bronze in taekwondo.
The very straight talking Karina Shirodkar has been a practitioner of taekwondo since Class 2 says it is important to ensure that more parents enrolled their kids in sports. There has to be a balance between sports and studies which would help the individual. She says, “I think it is important for women to learn some form of martial arts. Our government is providing the facilities and our students and people should make most of the opportunities that come their way. It is not necessary for them to win laurels but the fact that they are practising changes you as a person and that will help you mentally. I would like to see more children winning medals and the system pushing them so that they can win medals at the highest level. Parents should understand that studying is important but sports is important too.” She goes on to say that the government had sent a letter promising winners a job in the government. That she says is a good move. The government she says was doing its bit and it should be taken advantage of.
For the foremost goalkeeper to come out of Goa, Brahmanand Sankhwalkar who also won the Padma Shri and Arjuna Award, the day is important because it was the birthday of the foremost sportsman to emerge from India. Major Dhyan Chand he says was someone everybody should know about. People, he says, should know the man behind all the glory that India achieved. He says, “With the digital world now, it is possible to do all these things. Even senior citizens may have forgotten. He should not be remembered just on his birthday but throughout the year.”
For Sohail Sheikh, who is passionate about Sqay martial arts, he feels it is important for the government to support the students interested in this sport. He says, “Nowadays our sportsmen are getting support from the government to achieve our ambitions even at the Olympics. That should continue.”
Brandon Crasto is the founder of Crocotryles Rugby Foundation who is looking to make the game popular in the State like football. He says, “This sport strengthens the person both physically and mentally. It takes his or her athletic prowess to the next level. It is also a good sport to develop culture and community bonding. It is all about passion. It helps you in so many different ways. I was introduced to the sport in my school and I fell in love with it. I want to share that love and passion in the schools around Goa.”
Undoubtedly one of the country’s most talented footballers to emerge from the State, Bruno Coutinho says it is a day which brought back wonderful memories. He says, “I received the Arjuna Award in 2002 on this day and I cannot forget it. It is the birthday of a great hockey player and it is celebrated all over the country. To achieve it is important to be disciplined and we should remember that in whatever we do.”
One hopes the sporting community remembers the great man and also the effort that went into his greatness and pushes themselves to greater heights.
Ajit John [email protected]
