Team Herald
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PANJIM: Seven Star Boys, Valpoi clinched the 1st All Goa Kabaddi Police Cup 2019 defeating Goa Police in the nail-biting final.
The Valpoi started the match on the front foot and produced an all-round performance to down hosts 48-41 at the Shyama Prasad Mukharjee Indoor Stadium, Bambolim on Wednesday.
Cuncolim Warriors finished third while Tiswadi Kabaddi Sangh ended up fourth.
Speaking at the prize distribution function chief guest, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant said sports unites all the religions.
“Politics in sports should be stopped. A true sportsman will not get justice unless and until we don’t separate politics and sports”, said Pramod.
“Organising a kabaddi tournament is a great initiative by the Goa Police. Kabaddi is our national game and not only the Government but all the sports associations need to take the initiative to promote the same”, he added.
Speaking on the National Games, which will be held from October 20 to November 4 next year, Pramod said that the players have enough time to train and make themselves competent enough to win a medal.
“State should participate in all the 37 disciplines at the Games as there is enough time (one year) to prepare for the same. This is a big opportunity for all the players to showcase their talent and win medals. As we are the hosts we need to bring maximum medals to make ourselves feel proud,” he said.
Sports Minister Manohar Azgaonkar congratulated both the teams for playing an exciting final and asked the Goa Police to prepare a separate cell for sports.
“National Games dates have been already declared and we are ready for the same but at the same time there is need to produce good professional players to play at the Games and who can bring laurels to the State”, Azgaonkar said
“I have already asked the SAG to start training players for the Games so as to gain success and bring medals for Goa”, he added.
“To remain physically fit each and every child has to participate in sports. By introducing Sport Policy we have given an opportunity for students to shine in sports as well as in education”, he said.
Special invitee Vishwajeet Rane, an ex-national level kabaddi player, stressed on the need of providing mats to all the registered clubs and schools so that they train and shine at the national level.
Requesting the CM and sport minister to provide the mats, Vishwajeet said, “Earlier we played kabaddi on a muddy ground but now it is played on mat. In order to produce national level kabaddi player there is a need to start the training right from Std V for which every school should have a kabaddi mat”.
Giving an example of the national level Pro-League Kabaddi, Vishwajeet urged the players to play as a professional as there is a lot of scope at national level.
