PANAJI
Having made different attempts to apply for the Padma Shri award, Mary D'Souza Sequeira (90), a Goan Olympian and triple medallist at the Asiads, has now pinned her hopes on the State government grants her one last wish and nominates her to the prestigious award.
“I applied for the Padma Shri Award as a citizen in 2016 and was ignored, while so many younger athletes have received it. I tried again in 2020 but to no avail. I guess because I have no political connections in these last 70 years,” laments Mary.
Marissa Sequeira says her mum had even got two Padma awardees to nominate her.
“When asked to submit her name, the Hockey India asked us to check with the Athletics Federation of India (AFI). The AFI even wrote a recommendation, but it went nowhere,” says Marissa.
Mary has now placed her hopes on Chief Minister Pramod Sawant and Sports Minister Babu Ajgaonkar.
“I hope the chief minister and sports minister of Goa give this Goan athlete one last wish while I am alive. I am an Indian citizen and a proud Goan,” says Mary.
Incidentally, Mary has not received much recognition from the State government.
“While there was no state recognition as such, Mary was bestowed with a certificate and memento by the Goa government in 1988, for donning India’s colours at the international level,” said Aldona-based writer Felix P da Cruz.
Mary was, however, honoured by the Centre with the ‘Dhyanchand Award’, India’s highest award for lifetime achievement in sports, in 2013.
In 2013, then sports minister Ramesh Tawadkar had assured that the State government would not lag behind in the maximum possible to recognise and honour Mary, shortly after she was nominated for the prestigious ‘Dhyanchand Award’.
“It is a great honour to the State and especially sportswomen, that way back in 1950s Goan girls had made a mark in international sports. This will certainly boost efforts to promote sports to even greater heights and encourage youngsters, especially girls, to seriously pursue sports,” Tawadkar had said.
SEE ALSO: 90-yr-old Goan Olympian yearns for recognition from State
