PANJIM: Goa’s Geetanjali Nagvekar signed off with silver in 400m Level C athletics on the concluding day of 2023 Special Olympics Summer Games in Berlin, on Sunday.
The Goan athletes cornered in all 19 medals – nine gold, five silver and five bronze.
Geetanjali, who had opened Team Bharat’s medal account with a gold in the 800 metres, took the silver in a race that turned out to be an engrossing affair with the first three runners in contention for the gold. Ultimately, India’s Ravi Mathi Arumugam and TriinTreier of Estonia finished with an identical time of 1:29.80 minutes to be adjudged joint gold medal winners, while Geetanjali finished in a time of 1:30.11 to take the silver.
Participating in the two middle distance races, Nagvekar had made a strong start with a gold in the 800 metres last Monday. The 19-year-old student from the Sanjay Centre for Special Education, Porvorim, was naturally disappointed in not being able to replicate her opening day’s form.
“I was confident I would win a medal, and I wanted it so much to get a second gold for myself and my country,” Geetanjali stated. “No doubt, I will take the silver, but a gold medal would have been much better. Perhaps, I didn’t pace myself properly. But, all in all, I don’t think it’s a bad thing to finish an Olympic Games with a gold and one silver,” she concluded.
Geetanjali’s effort was the final medal effort from the 13 Goan athletes and 10 officials, who represented the country.
“Our athletes have shown their commitment by giving off their best. We could not have asked for anything more from them,” Victor Vaz, National Sports Director of Special Olympics Bharat, commented.
“Our gratitude to everyone who has been involved. We are grateful to the coaches, officials and especially to Don Bosco Oratory for allowing us to use their training facilities,” Victor added.
Four Goan players – Venson Paes, Aman Nadaf, Francis Parisapogu and Joel Rodrigues – were part of the gold medal winning football squad. Siya Sarode picked up a couple of the yellow metal in powerlifting, while Geetanjali Nagvekar (800 metres) and Manfil Ferrao (men’s basketball) accounted for the remaining two.
Sarode got a silver in powerlifting, Nagvekar bagged a silver in the 400 metres, Aayush Gadekar was part of the men’s volleyball, while Taniya Usgaonkar (roller skating) and Aslam Ganjanavar (judo) were the other two silver medallists.
The five bronze medals for Goa came from Gayban Mulla (mini javelin), Usgaonkar (roller skating), Sarode (powerlifting) and the two footballers Gayatri Fatarpekar and Kajal Jadhav.
Traditionally, athletes from Goa have enjoyed a fair share of medals during past editions of the Games.
It was Anthony Colaco making a glorious start while clinching gold in the long jump at 1991 Minnesota Games. After that, performances of Goan athletes have been strong with six gold, 2 silver and 3 bronze at 2003 Dublin Games, 7 gold, 2 silver and 3 bronze at 2007 Shanghai Games followed by six gold, four silver and six bronze at 2011 Athens edition.
Four years later, Goan athletes returned with six gold, three silver and 10 bronze from 2015 Los Angeles Games, and then in 2019 in Abu Dhabi they returned triumphant with five gold, eight silver and 10 bronze.
