TEAM HERALD
bureau@herald-goa.com
PANJIM/CANACONA: She may have been remembered and recognized by a grateful village, but legendary athlete and Dhyan Chand Award winner Mary (D’Souza) Sequeira was forgotten by the State government despite claims by Sports Minister Ramesh Tawadkar to “do the maximum possible to recognize and honour Mary for her highest recognition in the country.”
Mary D’Souza (81), a triple Asian Games medallist and an international hockey player, was in the State for a week and Tawadkar was informed about her presence, besides being reminded about his assurances that the State could felicitate her for receiving the Dhyan Chand Award, the country’s highest award for life-time contribution to sports.
“The Cabinet had already taken a decision to honour Mary D’Souza,” admitted Tawadkar on Thursday. When brought to his notice that Mary was leaving for Mumbai on Friday evening, Tawadkar was hopeful that the sports department would felicitate her on Friday.
While Mary was felicitated by the Quitula Sports Club at Aldona, where she hails from, students of St Xavier’s College at Mapusa had also met her to do a documentary on her, after being inspired by the film ‘Bhaag Milka Bhaag.’
However, not a single official from the Sports Department got in touch with her.
“I was in Goa for a week and I thought that seven days was long enough for any sports official to have contacted me, that is, if they had any intention to honour the statements of the sports minister,” said a visibly disappointed Mary, while speaking to Herald shortly before boarding her train back to Mumbai.
It may be recalled that Tawadkar had expressed delight in August on hearing that a sportswoman of Goan origin was the recipient of the Dhyan Chand Award for lifetime achievement in sports.
Admitting that he was not aware of Mary’s achievements in the field of sports, Tawadkar had told Herald in August that “the State government will not lag behind in doing the maximum possible to recognize and honour Mary D’Souza for her highest recognition in the country.”
“It is a great honour to the State and especially sportswomen, that way back in 1950s Goan girls had made a mark in the international sports arena. This will certainly give a boost in taking sports development to even greater heights and encourage youngsters, especially girls, to seriously pursue sports. I will check with my officials and we will see what best we can do to honour Mary D’Souza and we will do the necessary,” Tawadkar had told Herald at the time.
