His unflinching resolve and uncommon vigour laid the carpetfor many victories in various state and national level table tennistournaments. However, the most recent feat that was the crowning glory of themall, was the title of India’s No.2 that Wesley do Rosario reclaimed in theunder-12 category at the National Ranking Table Tennis Tournament (East Zone).In this year, 2012, he began the season in the U-12 category as India’s No.2,dropped to No.4 and returned to No.2 after the East Zone ranking tournamentthat was held from November 17 to 22.
Fomento Resources sponsored Wesley, a class 5 student ofLoyola High School in Margao, took to the TT bat when he was only around 3years old. He tagged along with his father and elder sister Eleanor “ who is Goa’sNo.2 in the junior girls category “ for TT practices to the BPS Sports Club inMargao. When he was 7, he was the youngest player to represent Goa at the Cadetand Sub-Junior Nationals in Chennai. It was here that his game caught theattention of foreign coaches and he was offered an opportunity to be trained atthe Petroleum Sports Promotion Board (PSPB) which is a full-fledged TT academyin Ajmer, Rajasthan.
Wesley is coached by his father Lenie do Rosario, a formernational player and civil engineer. The father-son duo train with fitness andpractice from 5 pm to 10 pm every day. “I have dedicated all my time to seethat my son does well in TT; I coach him, accompany him to camps andtournaments and take him to play with other experienced players all over Goa,”he says. Sadly, Goa cannot boast of TT coaches with the exception of one inVasco and another in Panjim who are affiliated to the Directorate of Sports.
“My favourite players are Ma Long from China, Mizutani Junfrom Japan, Soumyajit Ghosh and Abhishek Yadav from India. I am looking forwardto watch Anthony Amalraj playing live at the next zonals in Delhi,” saysWesley. “The next zonals are from November 26 to December 1 and should he winhere, he will be India’s No.1 in the cadet category,” says Lenie. With a zealously devoted father and coach andhis own ardent passion for the sport, the No.1 title does not seem toofar-fetched a dream for Wesley.
