MLA accuses govt of starving sports bodies of financial support
MAPUSA
Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Wednesday assured the Goa Legislative Assembly that all pending sports grants will be disbursed by October to associations that furnish utilisation certificates.
He also announced that ‘Khelo India’ centres will be set up in all 12 talukas of the State to strengthen grassroots-level sports infrastructure.
The assurance came amid criticism from the opposition, particularly Goa Forward Party leader and Fatorda MLA Vijai Sardesai, who accused the government of starving sports associations of their rightful financial support.
“The government ignored local athletes while hosting the National Games and relied on outstation players to win medals. Our local sports bodies are left frustrated and unsupported,” Sardesai said.
He pointed out that despite football being the official state sport, the Goa Football Association received only Rs 2.5 lakh in the last four years, while a balance of Rs 72 lakh remains unpaid.
“Badminton, which has 22 affiliated clubs in the State, has also not received its grants,” he added.
Citing poor performance in recent editions of the Khelo India Youth Games, Sardesai said Goa failed to win any medals in 2024 and managed just one bronze in 2025.
“Only two Khelo India centres exist – at Sanquelim and Ponda. Why haven’t more talukas been covered?” he questioned.
Responding to the concerns, Sawant admitted the delay in disbursing grants but clarified that payments were held up due to the failure of some associations to submit proper utilisation certificates.
“We are committed to promoting sports. Those associations that submit the necessary documents will receive their grants by October,” he assured.
The Chief Minister also declared that all 12 talukas would soon have fully functional Khelo India centres to ensure equitable access to training and facilities across the State.
Joining the discussion, Mandrem MLA Jit Arolkar raised concerns over the lack of qualified coaches, which he said was a major hurdle in developing athletes.
“Without proper coaching, we cannot expect our athletes to excel,” he said.
Sawant acknowledged the issue but pointed out the difficulty in sourcing experienced and certified coaches.
“We are willing to go all out to support sports, but getting skilled coaches is a real challenge,” he said.
The government’s fresh push for decentralised sports development comes amid growing criticism of its handling of athlete development and funding delays.
