PANJIM: Goa’s pride and joy, Katya Coelho, India’s first woman sailor suddenly finds her sailing career in choppy waters for absolutely no fault of hers. She was bafflingly dropped from the contingent going to attend the Asian Games in China. She is part of a group of 200 athletes whose names were not cleared by the government in Delhi. According to Katya, many of those who were dropped had qualified for their events.
Speaking to O Heraldo Katya said, “Till August 25 my name was on the list, my measurements for the team uniform were also taken but then after that, I don’t know what happened. There was a sailing contingent of 16 and I was the only one dropped. I am heartbroken. It takes years and years of practice and my parents’ hard-earned money. All that has now gone to waste. This would have been my second Asiad. Cannot get the time back I spent on training. I have been denied a spot despite having qualified for the sport. I would like to know the reason for my exclusion.”
If you enjoyed reading this article, you can help support our journalism by adding OHeraldo as a preferred source.
When contacted, Sports Minister Govind Gaude said: “Ace sailor Katya met me today (Tuesday) afternoon and I immediately wrote to the Secretary of the Ministry of Sports and Youth Affairs and also to the Indian Olympics Association (IOA). I don’t know why she has been dropped and I was unaware till she met me. By tomorrow I will get the reply. It is a proud moment for Goa that Katya Coelho has represented the country.”
Siddharth Satardekar, President of Goa Yachting Association when contacted said he had absolutely no idea as to why this was done. He said, “We don’t know if it is an omission or a clerical error. We are waiting for more information. The yachting association had planned to send the contingent for training early and her name was part of that group. Now I don’t know what happened”.
Goans can only hope the hopes and dreams of one of its own super athletes are not drowned in a manner so cruel.
