PANJIM: As supposed to be nation’s premier sports event, the National Games has lost its charm and rather been in news for unsporting events.
If it does get attention, it is mostly for what happens off the field than on it. And yes! once again the news of National Games is up —not for the countdown or so —but for a reason of another postponement, which had been quite expected.
With barely five months left for the Games and with no development in the infrastructure for the games, a postponement was inevitable.
However, the games will certainly not happen in 2018 as Goa has asked for three months extension which means —the Games will be hosted in the State in February 2019.
“We have put forth our proposal seeking more time of three months giving a detailed presentation and we have got the thumbs up. We are just waiting for the written confirmation copy of the same,” said Sports Minister Manohar (Babu) Azgaonkar.
“Yes we wanted to have the games in November but we encountered technical delays and couldn’t commence work with the proposed stadium across the State. And with monsoons arriving, it will be difficult and hence we have asked for the postponement of the same.” explained Babu Azgaonkar who earlier assured of having the Games in November 2018.
However, the Indian Olympic Association on the other hand were keen on having the games this year and had proposed to host certain sports disciplines in other States.
IOA President Narinder Batra had said during a press meet in Delhi, “We want to hold the National Games in 2018. Otherwise it could delay the conduct of the future games in Chhatisgarh, Uttarkhand and Meghalaya” Thus, shooting, cycling could be shifted to other states to overcome the infrastructural challenge in Goa.
With IOA wanting to have the Games this year, Sports Minister is confident that IOA will approve the postponement of the Games to the new dates in February.
IOA General Secretary had also made the statement saying, “We have to shift otherwise the delay in getting the venues will impact the preparation scheduled of the other games too,”
“We faced infrastructural problems earlier. But now we are sure of completing the venues by February. The works at the Indoor stadium, Pernem will commence shortly. We are yet to begin with the hockey ground but will make it happen,” added Azgaonkar who said that the State would want to host the maximum sports as the hosts State.
However, even seeking postponement of Games to February there will doubts of completion of the cycling velodrome, at Fatorda.
While there are questions of delay in infrastructural developments for the Games, an insider accused the SAG for delaying tendering process and rejecting certain tensors due to the officials’ personal benefits.
However, Azgaonkar rubbished these claims and said, “The work had been delayed due to GST. Wherein we had to re-tender certain projects. If anyone has any doubts on the same, they should file RTI.”
