Team Herald
PANJIM: The D-day has finally arrived! The State Sports Associations will gather to renew interests and ideologies in governing the Goa Olympic Association (GOA).
The GOA elections will be held on Saturday(today).
However, this time it’s going to be a different ball …rather vote game. Three new faces in fray for different positions has ruled out and unopposed election process at the State Olympic Association.
Despite being unopposed for second time as the President Ayush Minister Shripad Naik’s panel faces a stiff challenge as Goa Badminton Association Secretary Sandeep Heble joins the contest as he has filed his nominations for the posts of General Secretary and Vice President, thus putting seasoned campaigner Gurudatta Bhakta’s stake at risk.
However, the late nomination of Goa Football Association General Secretary Welvin Menezes added a further twist in the contest. Welvin has filed his nomination for the executive members along with Amateur Archery Association of Goa representative Chetan Kavlekar, who is eyeing the post of Joint Secretary.
Though the trio, hailing from different associations, all share similar ideologies to bring in the change in the governing and functioning of the GOA – thus challenging the Ayush minister’s panel.
What’s more interesting is the fact that the ailing Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar declared football as the official sport of the State of Goa in 2012.
However, the Goan Olympic Association, it appears, does not agree to the BJP government’s decision because till day the Goa Football Association is not under its list of members.
Wasn’t it a fair enough reason for the state sport be a part of the BJP led MLAs candidate’s GOA panel along with other associations?
The State’s two most active associations –badminton and football – which have managed to bring laurels to the State through their achievements have to fight their place to make it up, we see many other associations getting direct berth while some even getting two representations.
According to sources, it has been learnt that Riffle Shooting Associations Goa, athletic, fencing, kho kho, boxing, taekwondo, volleyball, handball, hockey, weightlifting, yachting all are keen to make it to GOA as part of Shripad Naik’s panel.
Though the above mentioned has one representation each, what’s more surprising that the Goa Judo Association has two representations in Shripad’s panel with GOA Gen Secy candidate Gurudatta Bhakta and Siddheswar Naik, who is up for the executive member role.
GOA elections were last held in July 2014. With the exception of the National Games and Lusofonia GOA, whose parent body is IOA, hardly does anything to move sports forward in the State.
Are the ministers, heading some associations only good enough to give away prizes as chief guests or do they spare time for boosting sporting activities?
