STANDING BY THE SAILORS
>> Offers to support in terms of equipment poured in with the school where Katya studies getting in in touch with Donald through text messages and over phone
>> Many others too have either called or sent text messages pledging their support including Sagar Salgaocar, the managing director of Geno Pharmaceuticals
>> Salgaocar said they were willing to support the Coelho siblings' Asian Games campaign, in whatever manner possible
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GOVT SLAMMED
>> Dayen and Katya's aunt Nelita Coelho chided Goa's sports authorities for their response and insenstivity in pushing the onus on the Central government>> In a Facebook post, Nelita slammed the Goa Sports Director for his stand that it is the Central ministry's lookout since Coelho siblings were part of Indian team
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PANAJI: The State government may have washed its hands off but Goans from all corners are rushing in to support the Coelho siblings - Dayne and Katya - who will take a shot at earning a medal for the country at Jakarta in the mixed team RS: One category in the ongoing Asian Games.
As reported by The Goan, Dayne and Katya have been practicing at Jakarta since August 4 with old equipment and efforts by their dad, Donald, to get them new equipment by dashing off to Singapore on Monday met with partial success.
Donald, himself an ace sailor and who also doubles up as Coach of the Indian team at Jakarta, managed to buy the only available board for Dayne. For Katya, with no new board available for outright purchase, he has managed to lease one in Jakarta itself.
A score of Goans and organizations, including the school where Katya studies - the Ardee School - have offered to support in terms of equipment and have got in touch with Donald through text messages and phone calls.
Shefali Varma, the chairperson of Ardee School got in touch with Donald and pledged to help his son-daughter duo in terms of equipment, financial support or in any other way possible. Congress leader Aleixo Reginald Lourenco, meanwhile, wrote to Sports Minister Manohar Ajgaonkar on Tuesday and demanded that the government prioritise organizing the windsurfing equipment for the Coelho siblings.
Citing The Goan report, Lourenco lamented the "sorry state of affairs" as far as the importance government accords to sports. In his letter to Ajgaonkar, the Curtorim MLA lamented that the Goan kids competing at the Asian Games had to make do with second-hand equipment.
Many others too have either called or sent text messages pledging their support including Sagar Salgaocar, the managing director of Geno Pharmaceuticals. Mr Salgaocar, whose firm supports a number of top Goan athletes in various disciplines, said they were willing to support the Coelho siblings' Asian Games campaign, in whatever manner possible.
However, due to paucity of time with the event the duo are competing in set to begin on Friday (August 24), the young wind-surfers will now have to make do with equipment arranged by their dad.
Meanwhile, Dwaye's and Katya's aunt, Nelita Coelho went ballistic to chide Goa's sports authorities for their response and insenstivity in pushing the onus on the Central government.
In a post on social networking site Facebook, Nelita slammed Sports Director V M Prabhudesai for his stand that it is the Central ministry's lookout since the Coelho siblings were competing in the Asiad and part of the Indian team.
"Such a foolish statement...No wonder Goa is turning into a live circus day by day with such clowns in power" Nelita posted on her Facebook wall.
"Thank you all our friends and well wishers from Goa and all over for the love, good wishes and prayers for our kids performance," Nelita's post reads.
"We will not let the crabs pull us down" Nelita's post said, adding that she hoped that just like in "Lagaan" their hard work pays.
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Thanks, but no thank
you: Coelho Senior
PANAJI: Donald Coelho has politely declined offers of financial support for sailing equipment and other costs of his children's campaign in a sailing event at the Asian Games.
"No thank you. I am a well settled businessman but was only fighting for the right cause towards sportsmen," Donald said in response to scores of messages pledging support he received.
Himself an ace wind-surfer, Donald who is also one of the coaches of the Indian sailing contingent at the Asian Games said: "I have spent almost Rs 2-crore in these five years to develop the kids to this level. Since we were getting laurels for the State why not seek the due support from the government?"
He thanked all who responded for their support.
"We've made our minds strong. Will give it our best till the finish line. We need prayers and good wishes," he adds.
