A three-storeyed mural of Mary D'Souza Sequeira (90) on a building near Geeta Bakery in Panaji. Narayan Pissurlenkar
Mary D'Souza Sequeira was India’s first batch of female Olympians, a triple medallist at the Asian Games and an international hockey player.
Mary D'Souza Sequeira and her daughter Marissa in the USA.
PANAJI: Chief Minister Pramod Sawant's proposal to name stadiums in the State after iconic Goan sportspersons has been welcomed by none other than one of the legend herself, Goan Olympian Mary D'Souza Sequeira (90).
After deciding to name the hockey stadium at Peddem-Mapusa after Dhyan Chand and the athletics stadium in Bambolim after Milkha Singh, Sawant on Friday said the government would consider names of sports icons like Leo Pinto, Walter D’Souza and Mary D’Souza Sequeira for stadiums which were not yet named.
With a number of stadiums built for the Lusofonia Games and National Games in the State, the chief minister said this was the right time to name stadiums after legendary Goan sportspersons as the State celebrates 60 years of Goa’s Liberation.
Walter D’Souza and Leo Pinto were in India’s team which won the gold at the London Olympics (1948), while Mary won silver and bronze medals at the Asian Games in New Delhi (1951) and gold at the Asian Games in Manila (1954). She also took part in the 1952 Helsinki Olympics, the first time India had sent women athletes to the Olympics.
Speaking exclusively to The Goan from the USA, where she is presently residing with her daughter, Marissa Sequeira, Mary said: “I am encouraged and hopeful that Chief Minister Pramod Sawant will honour me with a stadium named after me. Thank you for remembering the sacrifice of our generation.”
“By naming stadiums after eminent sportspersons, the government is ensuring that future generations remember and are inspired by their Goan ancestors,” said Mary, who traces her roots to Quitula-Aldona.
Mary’s achievements at different sports have been nothing short of remarkable.
She won multiple medals in athletics at the Asian Games and also represented India at the World Cup Hockey in London (1953) and the World Cup Hockey in Australia (1956). Mary also played badminton and table tennis for the Railways, captaining the Railway hockey team at the nationals for three years (1965-67).
“I was coached by Dhyan Chand in hockey and Jesse Owens and Emile Zatopek for track and field. There are many stadiums named after these great sportspersons,” said Mary.
“Naming stadiums after our own Goans is meaningful as it recognises a great generation of amateurs who achieved a lot with nothing but their talent.”
“Goans have a lot of talent and history in sport not just in India, but Goans who have immigrated around the world and their offspring represent their new countries. It will inspire future generations of Goa to work hard for the glory of sports,” Mary added.
Mary said she is proud of being Goan. “I am a patriotic Indian citizen, but I am a daughter of Goa first. I represented India when Goa was still under Portuguese rule. My parents and grandparents did agriculture and my father moved from Aldona to Bombay for a better life for his family,” recalls Mary.
Mary, who was honoured in 2013 with the ‘Dhyanchand Award’, India’s highest award for lifetime achievement in sports, now hopes the State government would nominate her for the prestigious Padma Shri award.
Incidentally, a three-storeyed mural of Mary can be seen on a building near Geeta Bakery in Panaji. Mary’s life and achievements will soon be published in a book 'You Can't Eat Your Fame' by her daughter, Marissa.
