Finally, there is good news for a sport thatthrives on fighting spirit. Goa's increasing boxing talent pool in the boy’ssub-junior category has put a smile on the face of Goa Amateur BoxingAssociation officials. Today, howeverwith the quality pretty consistent in the boys section, the lack of quality boxers in the girls category is still aworry for the GABA.
"For the first time in the history of theassociation, we received a whopping 95 entries for selection trials for thenational sub-junior boys team. Instead of choosing the team, we had to choose40-odd probables for a camp. We finally sent a 18 member team for the nationalsin Akola,Maharashtra" revealed Clyde Lobo, secretary of Goa Amateur BoxingAssociation.
Goa tasted success with Abu Talid of SportsAuthority of India's Ponda training centre winning a gold medal. His team-mateRoshan Zamer, clinched a bronze medal. Nine other state boxers advanced to thequarter-finals.
Overall, the state boxing body is exploringdifferent methods to take the sport to the masses. One of the association'sinitiatives of starting boxing centres at schools, seems to be giving resultsnow. "It seems the high turnout at the selection trials, comes from thefact that the school centres are functioning well. We have boxing centres atPeople's High School and Don Bosco in Panjim, Lourdes Convent, Saligao, StBritto's in Mapusa and Our Lady of the Rosary in Navelim," disclosedClyde.
Although it is a bright picture for the boysboxing section, the GABA is still not able to put together a girls talent pool."We do our bit and try to stage demonstrations on Saturdays to eductateand make people aware that girls can box. We also want centres to start atArpora and grow the sport with the help of SAG," explains Clyde, who isplanning to send a lone entry from Goa for the junior girls national boxing championship in Patiala later thismonth.
The scenario may look gloomy now but the administrators do not intend to throw in the towel and hope in the future moregirls will step forward to box for the state.
