PANAJI
As curtains came down on the 37th edition of the National Games, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant unveiled another bonanza for sports persons: A 4 per cent quota in jobs in all government departments with a rider that it could go up to 5 % in the future.
Vice President Jagdeep Dhankar was the chief guest at the closing ceremony held at the Shyama Prasad Mukherjee stadium in Bambolim.
The sixteen-day mega sports event, considered the most elite sporting competition in the country, saw the host Goan contingent put up a remarkable show bagging 92 medals including 27 gold medals to break into the top ten at the ninth position. Neighbouring Maharashtra topped the overall medals tally ahead of Services.
The Games were inaugurated at a glittering opening ceremony by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on October 26 at the Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium at Fatorda.
Meanwhile, Sawant's announcement of a sports job quota in all government departments came as a surprise. Previously, jobs were reserved for sports persons only in the police and fire services departments.
Sawant praised Sports Minister Govind Gaude other ministers and bureaucrats for their efforts to make the organisation of the Games a success.
"Goa won 92 medals including 27 gold medals in the sports competition. This is our biggest achievement," Sawant said, expressing hope that in the next edition Goa will surpass the 100 medals mark.
Sawant also reiterated that a private Sports University will be established in Goa which will fulfill the nationwide requirement of technical and other expert personnel in the Sports domain.
He also said that the top class infrastructure which has come up in Goa for the National Games will be used to hold local, national and international events throughout the year and Goa will be known for Sun, Sand, Sea and Sports.
The 92 medals tally earned Goa the 9th position in National Ranking of 37th National Games. The Goan contingent participated in 39 of the 43 disciplines bagging 27 gold, 27 Silver and 38 bronze medals.
The Maharashtra contingent won a whopping 228 medals and topped the standings in a field of 28 States, 8 Union Territories and the Services Sports Board which took the second place overall.
Maharashtra was crowned as the overall champions and received the Raja Bhalindra Singh Ever-Rolling Trophy. Sanyukta Prasen Kale of Maharashtra and Pranati Nayak of Odisha won the Best Female Athlete Trophy.
Both gymnasts won four gold and one silver each to win the coveted award.
Srihari Nataraj of Karnataka, who won a total of ten medals which includes eight gold, one silver and bronze each, bagged the Best Male Athlete Trophy.
Meanwhile, the next edition of the National Games will be hosted by Uttarakhand.
Vice President Jagdeep Dhankar praised Goa's efforts in hosting the Games successfully saying it has set a new example with the feat.
Although Goa is a small State in size, it is the largest State in the heart. The whole of India can live in the heart of Goa, he said, adding that India which has bid for the 2036 Games has the capacity to host the Olympics.
Sports Minister Govind Gawde, Indian Olympic Association President P T Usha, Union Minister of State for Tourism Shripad Naik were among those who graced the closing ceremony which took off with a range of entertainment programmes.
