Athletics is no mean task as it takes a real slog by asportsperson, to master an athletic discipline. Fully understanding the futuredemands when Goa is scheduled to be the hosts for Lusofonia Games and NationalGames, Mandovi Athletic Club has ‘adopted’ 20 talented youngsters from all overthe state, to be groomed over a long period under its 'Mission National Games'.
Boys and girls from far and wide, mostly from remote areas,in the age group of around 16 years, have been spotted by trained athleticcoaches. The Directorate of Sports and Youth Affairs (DSYA) has supported theinitiative of the Club, which had marked its tenth anniversary by organisinginter-district nationals recently, where it had declared its aim to groomyoungsters.
Under the 'Mission National Games', the selected 20 athleteswere provided with sports kits. Later on, they will be provided with foodessentials and an exposure trip to Pune, is scheduled for April. Director ofSport, V M Prabhudesai affirmed the government's support to Mandovi's worktowards development of athletics.
Prabhudesai exhorted the youngsters to continue focussingand practicing their chosen athletic disciplines. "In Goa, there is a lackof continuity in athletics unlike other sports. So it is most important thatyou people keep on practicing and giving your best day in and day out for yearstogether. And we will keep on supporting you with kits and all other necessarythings and allowances," stated Prabhudesai during the kit distributionfunction in Panaji.
Moreover, the DSYA is keeping a special eye on athletics andhave availed of the services of experienced coach Bala Govindhan, the formerIndia coach. With the infrastructure for athletics also set to come up to theinternational level, the youngsters can dream big and train with vigour withoutany worry. What kind of worry? Ask the president of Mandovi Athletic Club,Paresh Kamat, who was a talented sprinter in his heydays. "Those times, wehad no synthetic track and not much focus was laid on comforting the athletes.It's much more brighter future for today's athletes, as two synthetic trackfacilities are coming up," said Paresh.
