Goan promoted to prestigious SAI post

TEAM HERALD

teamherald@herald-goa.com

NEW DELHI: The 50-year-old Roque Dias, who began his sports career as Goa’s badminton player in the Nationals from 1975 to 1982, on Monday took over as the Regional Director of the Sports Authority of India (SAI) in Delhi, the third top post in the organisation after the director general, executive directors and secretary.

He was earlier heading the National Institute of Sports (NIS) at Patiala. His promotion was cleared last month by a promotion committee headed by Sports Minister Ajay Maken, recognising the administrative capabilities he has shown in every position he held in SAI, the government body promoted by the Centre.

An alumni of the prestigious Dhempe College of Arts and Science, Dias was also the first youngest Goan to take over as Goa’s Director of Sports and Youth Affairs on deputation from SAI. He was earlier also the regional head of the SAI’s western region headquartered at Gandhinagar in Gujarat.

In the Delhi Commonwealth Games, 2010, he was appointed as the Deputy Director General for import of equipment and emerged as one of the officers coming clean without an iota of doubt over his sincerity and honesty. He is also the author of the book entitled “An Inspiration to Millions – A True Story of Yoga exponent.”

He contributed immensely to sports development like developing infrastructure, laying of synthetic surfaces, import of equipment and preparation of the Indian teams. He organised many international events and represented the government in the Melbourne Commonwealth Games to study the administration and organisational inputs to help in hosting the Games in Delhi.

His proficiency in sports and social activities led to the first national youth award he got from the hands of then Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi and later deputation to Japan by the government to represent India. He appeared on the cover page of the International Youth report published by the Government of Japan and circulated the world over, in recognition of his efforts to promote sports and youth activities.

After graduating as Bachelor of Science, Dias had plunged himself into playing competitive badminton when he felt good governance in sports is need of the hour. That is how he went to NIS, Patiala to secure a coaching diploma in badminton and later completed his Masters in Public Administration.