Goa’s National Games performance very inspiring: Govind Gaude
For a state that had its best showing at the National Games 2011 in Jharkhand winning 16 medals, including five gold, the performance at home has taken everyone by surprise. Till late on Wednesday, with sqay martial arts medals still being counted, Goa had crossed the 90-medal mark to move to the top 10 for the first time in history.
“Today I can say with pride that Goa’s medal tally is higher than ever before,” sports minister Govind Gaude told TOI on Wednesday, the penultimate day of the Games. “The performance of our athletes has been very inspiring. I was always confident that our gold medal tally would be far higher than previous editions.”
While many medals have been won by imports from other states, Gaude said there were several disciplines like sqay martial arts, pencak silat, modern pentathlon, taekwondo and swimming who had Goans winning top honours.
“Even if sportspersons have been brought from other states, it’s been done without violating the rules,” explained Gaude. “This is just the beginning. Now, you will soon see how athletes from Goa shine over the years.”
The National Games have been held in Goa after several delays. While the host city contract was signed in 2008, the Games were often postponed, largely due to the state’s inability to prepare the infrastructure needed to host the multidiscipline sporting event.
It was only last year, after the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) moved the 36th edition of the Games from Goa to Gujarat, that the state finally woke up to the challenge.
“From day one, I was fully confident that we will be able to host the Games in the right sporting spirit. As far as organisation is concerned, I was very optimistic that we would take the Games to greater heights,” said Gaude.
Meanwhile, the closing ceremony will be held at the Shyama Prasad Mukherjee Stadium, Taleigao, on Thursday, with Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar as the chief guest.
Singer Swaroop Khan, who sang the National Games anthem song, will perform with his crew. Goan group, Nirbhay Bhav, will also perform, besides a mixed cultural performance.
The best male and female athletes of the National Games will also be announced.