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PANJIM: Goa play Mizoram in the crucial second match in the football tournament of the 38th National Games. This match is important following Goa’s loss to Assam in the first game.
Speaking to O Herado, Head Coach Charles Dais said, “The team is confident and we have to be positive and get the three points. I don’t look at the past. I am focused on the Friday’s match.”
On the medical condition of Clencio Pinto, Charles mentioned he was doing good and would most probably play tomorrow.
He refused to even entertain questions about Goa’s record against MIzoram saying he was focused on winning the second game.
Squash: Akanksha enters quarters in
Top seed Akanksha Salunkhe will play in the quarter-finals on Friday to confirm a spot in the semi-finals. She will play Anika Dube from Maharashtra.
Coach Pintoo Rai said that Akanksha played very well and made it look very easy. She played against an opponent from Karnataka and it was a fluent victory for her.
Speaking to the O Heraldo, Akanksha said, “I am having easy games and that is an indication of the quality of my game. I am looking forward to the matches and I am sure it will get harder as the rounds progress.”
The finals will be played on February 3. On the extra pressure on her, Akanksha said that she was focused on winning the match and not thinking about it at all.
Asked about the quality of squash, she said a lot needed to be done to take it from the confines of the private clubs and make it accessible to everyone which would then grow the sport and increase competition.
Goan cyclist faces gruelling challenge in
road race
Jewel Veigas had a very tough time navigating the roads in the 120km road race and came in 14th in a field of 68 cyclists.
Speaking to O Heraldo Jewel said, “It was a very bumpy ride and a very difficult ride. I was cycling with the very best in the country. I could have come in the top 10 but I faced a problem. I had given my nutritional bottle to a person who was supposed to give it to me after 80km but he was not to be seen. If I had that water I would have done better.”
The person was a local who later came and apologised for not being there. His actions forced Jewel to manage with what he had and he was able to complete the race.
Jewel said, “The conditions were so rough it made my back ache and by the time I was done my entire body was aching. When the race started it was 10 degrees and when it ended two hours later it was 18 degrees.”
Jewel said the conditions were certainly a challenge but that was always the case in competitions at this level.
Swimmers struggle to
make a splash
Goa’s swimmers performed miserably in their heats to be eliminated in their respective events.
In the 200 metres backstroke, Shrungi Bandekar clocked 2:36:91 to finish 9th in her heat. In the same event in the men’s section, Dwayne Clemente came 20th in the preliminary heat.
In the 50 metres freestyle both the Goan swimmers lost. Aryan Sharma swam in the distance in 26.22 to come in the 23rd spot and Rahul Patil came in 28.72 seconds to stand in the 29th spot.
Coach Deepak Chetry said, “We had expected a lot from Shrungi but her mother said she had an injury and had made a comeback and she was out of practise.”
Shrungi mother said that she would be back and win more medals for the State. Her education is also important and that could also be a reason for her performance. You have to practice continuously to be on top of the competition.
All the other swimmers he said were performing as per their standards and it was not surprising they were lower down in the ranks.
Goan swimmers are expected to swim again on Sunday and Monday.
