Medal quest by our athletes
India’s wait for its second World Athletics Championship medal turned out to be even longer than for its second Olympic individual gold, and coincidentally it’s the same person who has broken both the 19-year and 13-year droughts.
General public interest in athletics remains otherwise poor; though five other Indian athletes made it to the WAC finals in Oregon, they wouldn’t be feted even a fraction as much. The fact is that India’s 2024 or even 2028 Olympic story would be disappointing if it is not broader than today’s. Unless we nurture future athletes by providing them the best of training facilities and international exposure less the red tape (people who have never run a mile in their lives lord over as the head of the Athletics Federation and Sports Authority of India) our medals shall come rarely and far between.
Also politicians should be totally kept out of sports, Olympic bronze medallist Lovlina Borgohain’s twitter rant against her coach not being allowed to train her, citing politics should be an eye opener as to how these netas destroy everything they put their hands to.
It takes a village to raise a child, it takes public funds, private funds, corporate sponsors, coaches, physics, regular participation, not to mention extraordinary personal tenacity and perseverance to join the World’s elite. In a billion plus country driven apart by strife, sports persons are the only credible role models and unfortunately we are too short of them.
Besides worrying about who would win the 2024 general elections we should focus more on where to find the next Neeraj Chopra, there could be one in the neighbouring village hurling the javelin beyond 90 mts, we have to find them and give them wings.
Vinay Dwivedi, Benaulim
Coliform bacteria in river and sea water
People, both tourists and locals, are attracted to the beaches and rivers where they have a swim. Many elderly people have their annual bath in the sea water which is known to have therapeutic value. However, what comes as a shocker is that Goa’s well known beaches are turning toxic.
The Goa State Pollution Control Board (GSPCB) has reportedly observed that major beaches, namely Miramar, Calangute, Morjim, Tiracol and Vagator in the North and Mobor, Baina, Velsao and Galgibaga in the South are most polluted with high levels of faecal coliform. The water quality data analysis for the year 2021-2022 has also revealed that the state’s major rivers namely Mandovi, Zuari, Sal, Tiracol, Chapora are also highly polluted with faecal coliform exceeding the permissible limit.
It is learnt that various factors can be attributed to the presence of faecal coliform bacteria in the water but the most common is the disposal of untreated or partially treated sewage.
If disease-causing bacteria are present, the most common symptoms are gastrointestinal upset and general flu-like symptoms such as fever, abdominal cramps, and diarrhoea. The risk of skin-related symptoms was also significantly elevated. The bacteria are highly adapted to the saline environment. Though chlorination can remove the bacteria in the water, it is not possible to treat the sea and river with chlorine. The only way forward is for the authorities to see that no sewage is released in the water bodies.
Adelmo Fernandes, Vasco
Missing the plots
Reading daily about land grab scams that has occurred (may be still on-going) in Goa is like flicking through a suspense thriller novel. There are so many whodunit moments: dead people are resurrected, ailing persons are resuscitated and rejuvenated, dead sisters married off as husband and wife, dead husband selling his property to his dead wife through a third party who is alive, deceased people signing sale documents and so forth.
The plot thickens when close relatives, friends and those given the power of attorney by people who trusted them are involved in spurious transactions and take their near and dear ones for a ride. Scores of persons (locals, non-locals) are involved including those in authority who are supposed to verify the authenticity of documents and people involved in property dealings. And the plot thickens! Looks like most times the validations are given a miss and tossed out for reasons best known to the wheeler-dealers.
In all these activities the plots (pun unintended) are lost! If this is the scenario in Goa, just imagine what could be happening across the country. Avaricious people and land grabbers seem to have taken to heart the saying of Mark Twain, “Buy land, for they’re not making it anymore!”
Sridhar D’Iyer, Caranzalem
Grass is greener on the other side
This has reference to the report ‘Guirdolim youth returns from abroad to contest VP polls to save his ward and village from destruction’ (Herald July 26, 2022). A large number of Goans have abandoned their homeland and migrated to the western world on Portuguese passports, in search of greener pastures.
And now it seems there are less of Goans in Goa and more of others. Amidst such a scenario, the return of Menino Costa working overseas, to Goa for filing his nomination to the Panchayat elections, must seem heart-warming to his village Guirdolim, in Goa. According to the news report, love for his village has brought him back to Goa to contest the elections. Can one wish that all those who have abandoned their homeland, whether it is Goa or elsewhere would return and do something good for our nation.
We rejoice and boast when a person of Indian origin makes it big in the Western countries, even aiming to the become the prime minister of UK Sadly, Indians are not recognised in their own land. But, like they say, the grass is always greener on the other side!
Melville X D’Souza, Mumbai
Chennai chess Olympiad
The capital and gateway of the South, the chess capital of India, Chennai is all set for the 44th edition of the international chess Olympiad. The state government and CM Stalin has made this opportunity to showcase the greatness of the city and the state. Within a short period of time the authority and the Chess federation has successfully turned the image of the beautiful city making it more beautiful.
By playing the host of such a prestigious tournament Tamil Nadu has excellently shown how hard work and meticulous planning can bring about so much global attention.
Thambi the mascot has already become a household name. Special buses, autos, metro transportation and 24×7 medical facilities, food and water supply, excellent accommodation, police monitoring are all set for the great tournament. From the land mark Napier bridge getting decorated as a chess board to A R Rehman coming out with his Midas touch with a grand musical extravaganza and mesmerising Mahabalipuram getting the final touches to host the Olympiad.
It has to be noted that the opportunity of conducting such an event came as host Russia found it difficult due to its war with Ukraine. Chennai had less time but the challenge was taken. All these done within just four months, for players coming from 187 nations, goes to show that we are ready to host any global event and stands to show our nations progress and commitment in hosting such mega events.
M Pradyu, Kannur
