CM backs hockey legends’ vision for sport’s development in State

Goan-origin hockey Olympians and Arjun awardees Joaquim Carvalho and Merwyn Fernandis are felicitated by Goa Chief Minister Dr Pramod Sawant.

PANAJI
Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant has assured hockey Olympians and Arjun awardees Joaquim Carvalho and Merwyn Fernandis all his help for the promotion of hockey in the State, including setting up an academy in Goa, besides other youth development programmes in the State.

The meeting was facilitated by Labour Commissioner Dr Levinson Martins and took place on Friday evening.

The two Olympians presented the Chief Minister a detailed plan on activities and projects they seek to execute in the State with the backing of the State government.

The two Olympians presented the Chief Minister a customised miniature hockey stick while the Chief Minister felicitated the duo with a shawl and a flower bouquet.

Later, the Olympians interacted with officials of Sports Authority of Goa (SAG), Dr Geeta Nagvekar, Directorate of Sports and Youth Affairs Director Ajay Gaude and the Khelo India, Goa representative.

The two Olympians explained to all the government frontal sports organisation representatives of SAG, DSYA and Khelo India of their plan which includes training children from Grade 1 and 2 and their entire youth development programme for the State.

Also on Friday, the two met Goa Chief Secretary Dr V Candavelou and Goa Assembly Speaker Ramesh Tawadkar.

Tawadkar assured all help to the Goan-origin Olympians, and as a first step, he said Shree Balram Residential High School, Canacona, will collaborate with the two Olympians as part of the hockey youth development programme.

On Thursday, the two Arjuna Awardees visited Our Lady of Health High School Cuncolim, St Anthony High School, Veroda-Cuncolim, both of which have been adopted by the newly formed Cuncolim Hockey Club, besides visiting Don Bosco High School, Panaji and The Kings School, Sao Jose de Areal.

On Friday morning, they visited St Anthony High School, Monte De Guirim, St Anthony High School, Duler and Holy Cross School, Bastora. On Saturday, the two Olympians held a meeting with Fr Romeu Godinho, the parish priest of Regina Martyrum Church, Assolna.

The meeting was attended by officials of Assolna Hockey Club, and it was decided to adopt Regina Martyrum High School, Assolna as part of the youth development scheme.

They will inaugurate the newly laid astro turf at the Fr Agnel Multipurpose High School in Verna, where the youth development scheme was launched by the two Olympians in February this year. Besides the two Olympians, Tom Menezes, a hockey enthusiast and a philanthropist, will be present for the opening ceremony.

“The aim of Fr Agnel Multipurpose High School Verna is to train the students from the grassroots level and help them achieve glory in the coming years for the State and the country,” said Fr Agnelo Gomes, Director of the Fr Agnel Multipurpose Complex, Verna.