PANAJI
Chetan Kavlekar, a Goa State Awardee in Physical Education and Sports, has been selected for the prestigious National Best Physical Education Teacher’s Award 2026. He is the only candidate from the western region of India to receive this honour. The award is conferred by the Physical Education Foundation of India (PEFI), recognised by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, Government of India.
Kavlekar will receive the national award at a ceremony to be held in New Delhi on February 6.
Highly qualified with MA, M.P.Ed, M.Phil, and LL.B (G) degrees, Kavlekar was earlier honoured with the State Best Physical Education Teacher Award by the Government of Goa in 2015.
He has been serving as a Physical Education Teacher at Vasantrao Dempo Higher Secondary School of Arts, Science and Commerce, Cujira for the past 28 years. During his tenure, he has brought laurels to the institution in over 23 different sports and games. Several of his students have represented Goa State and India at various levels.
An academic and sports administrator, Kavlekar has attended numerous national and international seminars and has presented research papers in sports seminars both in India and abroad. He played a key role in the implementation of the Physical Education textbook for Standard IX and, as a convenor, was instrumental in introducing Physical Education as a subject for the SSC examination under the Goa Board over the last two years. He also played a significant role in bringing the B.P.Ed degree course on par with the B.Ed course with the State Government.
Currently, Kavlekar holds several important positions, including Vice President of the Archery Association of India, Chairman of the Coaches Committee (AAI), Member of the Selection Committee (AAI), Joint Secretary of the Goa Olympic Association, President of the All Goa Council of Physical Education, and President of the HSS Physical Education Teachers’ Association.
An ex-national player in basketball, table tennis and netball, he has coached Goa State and University teams in table tennis, basketball, netball and handball. He has also been instrumental in introducing archery and netball in the State of Goa.
Apart from his contributions to Physical Education, Kavlekar serves as an NSS Programme Officer and has successfully organised over 18 special camps and state-level cultural activities.
