TEAM HERALD
sports@herald-goa.com
PANJIM: Despite all the initial pomp and hype of being the biggest Lusofonia Games, the Goa edition has managed to attract only 739 athletes across the various disciplines.
The number though is expected to drop according to high ranking LUGOC officials.
Keshav Chandra CEO of the Lusofonia Games at a press briefing said “LUGOC has received entries from all ACOLOP countries for the Games and will play host to 739 athletes from the 12 participating countries.”
However he went on to add “Brazil will be sending their football team but it is not yet confirmed. Portugal have not been able to send a team as the Portuguese federation has told us that they are unable to seek the release of club players due to their club commitments.”
“Athletics will be a major draw with a total participation of 174 athletes with 11 participating countries. Hosts India have the largest contingent with 40 male and 38 female athletes,” added Keshav.
Beach Volleyball will see 10 countries participate while Basketball, has 7 countries participating in the Games.
Although Portugal are out, Brazil (still to confirm) might still raise the bar of the competition and create some hype in football as hosts Goa (India) will compete with Macau (China), Sri Lanka, Sao Tome and Principe, Mozambique and East-Timor.
Contact sports Judo, Taekwondo and Wushu have seen a good response in participation. Judo will see 56 athletes from 7 nations compete, Taekwondo has seen confirmed participation of 50 sports persons from 9 countries. The sport of Wushu will be making its debut at this edition of the Games with 43 athletes from 5 nations.
At 200 participants, hosts Goa (India) will take part in all events followed by Macau (China) with 112 athletes, Angola (75), Mozambique (80), Sri Lanka (64), Portugal (56), Sao Tome and Principe (35), Cape Verde (35), Guinea Bissau (29), East Timor (26), Equatorial Guinea (20) and Brazil (7).
The draw for the different disciplines will be conducted by the various federations tomorrow, and will then be made available to the press. The entries by names have already been received but I am not at liberty to divulge them as they have to be reveled by the respective nations.
– Keshav Chandra
