PANJIM: Gujarat did it in 100 days, but the Goa government could not host the National Game despite a double-engine Sarkar for seven years! Worse, Goa for the first time occupied the second-last position in the medals tally.
Goa and North-East states were considered “backward” in Sports two decades ago. However, today the North-East states are proud Olympic medallists and Goa is nowhere around.
There should be a reorientation of existing schemes run by the Government of Goa. The scheme remains the same from the time this writer was the Director of Sports & Youth Affairs in 1993. It should be reviewed keeping in mind the four-year Olympics cycle. In fact, the Government of India is taking more care of sportspersons from the junior level onwards and that’s the reason the state sports department and sports associations should give more thrust in identifying talent and grassroot training.
Ironically, Goa is host to some sports associations which promote non-Goans. Such associations exist only on paper with no efforts to organise competitions/training/equipment but rather to only provide a platform for participation of non-Goans at Nationals competitions upon huge donations for personal gains. These out-of-turn favours are often granted in lieu of the lucre and votes in return for supporting favoured candidature at the Federation/Goa Olympic Association elections.
Take the instance of the Goa Olympic Association. The representative has been holding a position of power for the last two decades, being re-elected umpteen times, despite warning letters over the illegality dated 22.07.22,11.07.22 issued by IOA to GOA In absence of any policy framed for State sports associations, this has resulted in Goan origin sportspersons, who would otherwise represent teams at Olympics and international competitions in other countries, no longer visible in the Indian contingent.
Registration of Sports Associations should be reviewed
The registration of sports associations should be reviewed with the sports code under Society act 1860. It is imperative therefore that an over 30 year domicile ought to be made mandatory to permit members to join State sports associations as office bearers.
Look at this as an example of the functioning of sporting institutions. Italian 54 trap and skeet machines which were to be replaced for the World Cup at the SAI shooting ranges, Delhi. Since this writer was in charge of the ranges in 2003, he wanted the used machines to come to Goa so that locals could eventually make use of them. Accordingly, the Goa Shooting Association was instantly formed for the purpose with MP Shripad Naik, President, and Anil Madgaokar, secretary. Since there was no positive outcome from the Central Government, Eduard Faleiro, Union Minister, tabled the question in parliament, but the reply revealed that a Goa shooting association existed, based in Kolhapur, Maharashtra! Consequently, the Association proposal fizzled out and till date no shooting range exists in Goa.
In another example, Mr Bhupender Singh Bajwa has been the President of Goa Wushu Association and President of Wushu Association of India for over a decade. On conclusion of the Lusofonia Games in 2014, the Rs 40 lakh Wushu Platform donated by China was re-assembled in the Bajwa Godwin Public School, Meerut, UP despite a Custom Exemption Certificate and transportation paid by the Goa Government.
When this writer raised this issue during his tenure at CRC Bhopal MP in 2014. Mr Bajwa along with two other federations, met DG, SAI, in Delhi and informed that they will not conduct the National coaching camp in Bhopal till this writer was posted out of the Central Region. This was revealed to by Goan Chief Secretary Anthony D’Sa, IAS
This writer was appointed as SAI Head of its new scheme in 2011 in preparation of Indian teams for the 2020 Olympics. During the third year after Dias’ scheme was implemented, India notched 187 medals in junior international events. Result: As many as 128 qualified for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. A similar scheme has been drafted by this writer for identification of Goan talent for the 2036 Olympics, but the proposal is stuck at the IAS, Secretary Level. Besides, this writer had also given in writing to the CM that Rs 40 cr will be brought with his support from the Centre so as to implement this scheme effectively in Goa, but to no avail.
Besides this, many firms have fooled the State by constructing sports infrastructure for the National Games at exorbitant prices as compared to other states. The indigenous filtration plant installed instead of an imported one at the Campal swimming pool complex, duplicate hockey turf installed, replaced and awarded with another contract, against the rules, besides many other debatable issues. The State goverment. should refer these cases to the Competition Commissioner of India to get some money refunded.
(The writer is a former Dy. Director General, CWG 2010 and ED, SAI. The article represents the views of the writer and does not necessarily reflect the views of the Herald Editor, Publisher or owners)
