Diving is one of the few sports in which Goa has done well not just at the national but also at the international level.
But, the irony is that diving activities in Goa has come to a standstill since the last four and half years ever since corona broke out in March 2020. Neither there is coach available nor is diving pool ready at the Campal Swimming Pool Complex in Panaji.
Currently, Goa has one NIS certified diving coach Deepak Chetry at the Campal pool. But, Deepak, who is a national medal winner in diving, teaches swimming and not diving to the kids.
Over the years, Goa’s senior diving coach P Narasimhalu was the man who was instrumental in producing national and international level divers from Goa.
In his more than thirty years of career as a diving coach from 1990 – 2020, Narasimhalu created 18 national champions. At the national level, his students have bagged a rich haul of 132 gold, 108 silver and 103 bronze medals.
Apart from that, his students have even won four international medals from Annika Madgavkar, Szevinska D’Mello, Sayuli Pai Raikar and Mrunal Pai Raikar in Asian Age group swimming.
Among his other prominent students include Anuj Timblo, Afra Shaikh, Sushmeeta Vasta, Genevive D'Costa, Deepak Chetry and Megan de Almeida who have also been national champions.
The Campal swimming pool was closed for more than two years from 2020 – 2022 either due to repair work or COVID. Later, when the pool resumed operation in November 2022, the diving pool was not ready and still, it is not operational. This is the only diving pool available in Goa with proper facilities for training for national meets.
Lack of diving pool meant that Goa lost out on a sure shot medal in diving during the 2023 National Games held in Goa from October - November as the Goan divers could not practice in Goa due to lack of a diving pool.
In February 2024, Megan De Almeida won silver in 3 meters and bronze in 1 meter springboard diving at the All India Inter University Aquatics Championship 2023-2024 held at Chennai.
Megan, who is a MBBS student, has been a sub-junior national champion twice. The girl from Divar was a sure shot medal contender for Goa during 2023 National Games. But, she was unable to represent the state as there was no proper diving pool available in Goa for training.
Lack of training facilities in Goa for diving is ruining the talent of the likes of Megan and other young budding divers of Goa.
Given Goa’s past record of having produced multiple national winning divers, the sport has a bright future in the state. But lack of apathy from Goa government has brought the game to a standstill since the last four and half years.
Hopefully, things will get back to normal soon as it was during pre-covid days. That’s what Goan divers are hoping so that they can bring back laurels to the state again.
