Editor, Goemkarponn
AERIAL VIEW
With the hosting of the National Games and the Volleyball World Beach Pro Tour (BPT) in the coastal state, the Goa government has now announced to further foster sports and establish a sports university to attract the youths.
Happy with Goa winning an astonishing 92 medals which included 27 gold, 27 silver and 38 bronze medals to finish among the top ten in the recently concluded National Games, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant also announced 4 per cent reservation in jobs for sportspersons in all government departments.
He said the sports reservation quota in government jobs will now be extended to all departments. Earlier they were getting jobs only in the police and the fire services, but now there will be 4 percent reservation in all the departments for sportspersons.
SURAJ NANDREKAR
Editor, Goemkarponn
Goa successfully hosted the National Games in October and November recently, which could be termed as a succesful event, except opf two days of rains.
The unseasonal rains were a bit of a dampner for the otherwise a well organised event.
Besides the State contingent gave a solid performance with nearly hundred medals to its tally.
With the hosting of the National Games and the Volleyball World Beach Pro Tour (BPT) in the coastal state, the Goa government has now announced to further foster sports and establish a sports university to attract the youths.
Happy with Goa winning an astonishing 92 medals which included 27 gold, 27 silver and 38 bronze medals to finish among the top ten in the recently concluded National Games, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant also announced 4 per cent reservation in jobs for sportspersons in all government departments.
He said the sports reservation quota in government jobs will now be extended to all departments. Earlier they were getting jobs only in the police and the fire services, but now there will be 4 percent reservation in all the departments for sportspersons.
According to Sawant, establishing a sports university will help sportspersons in the coastal state and will also create human resources.
The State has passed the private university bill and (through this) State is trying that private university comes to Goa.
If a sports university comes to Goa then graduation, diploma and various types of technical courses can be started so that the sports field gets human resources. The government said it will support those who wish to start a sports university.
According to Sawant his government will welcome any proposal to set up a private sports university in the state.
“Our sportspersons will get a boost and they will participate at the international level. The infrastructure created for the national games will be used by the sportspersons,” he said.
Goa has a rich history of football, which was played by the Portuguese and in 1923 the first international match in India between Britain and Portugal was hosted by Goa.
But now the question arises will these assurances or the promises will be implemented in letter and spirit? Or will they remain just as an announcements?
Though the announcement has come as a great motivation to the sportspersons, who otherwise see no future after sports, unlike their counterparts in other states, one feels wthether it would become a reality and if yes when?
In the past only a few sportspersons have got the recognition of State government including former footballers – Brahmanand Shankhwalkar and Bruno Coutinho, who were also conferred Arjuna Awards, cash prizes and government jobs.
Goa government has also given job offer to ace chess player Bhakti Kulkarni but what about others? There are many such talents who needs backing of the State government.
Not just jobs and reservation the government needs to incentivise the achievements in sports.
Goa now has a top standards sports infrastructure after the National Games spending hundreds of cores of rupees and only time will tell how much use would be made of the said infrastructure in future.
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