The Goa Athletic Association (GAA) will organise its 49th State Level Athletic Meet on September 24 and 25 at Peddem Sports Complex, Mapusa. The events will be held for boys and girls U-8, U-10, U-12, U14, U-16, U-18, U-20, men and women. Close to 1200 participants from 53 clubs/ schools/colleges/institutes will be participating in the two-day event. Altogether there will be 107 events.
The Goan Network
Panaji
The Goa Athletic Association (GAA) will organise its 49th State Level Athletic Meet on September 24 and 25 at Peddem Sports Complex, Mapusa. The events will be held for boys and girls U-8, U-10, U-12, U14, U-16, U-18, U-20, men and women. Close to 1200 participants from 53 clubs/ schools/colleges/institutes will be participating in the two-day event. Altogether there will be 107 events.
Addressing the media, Paresh Kamat, General Secretary, GAA, revealed that the U-8 category has been introduced this year. “The newly introduced U-8 category will have an event in the 50 metres category with over 150 entries expected. Next year, we intend to introduce the U-6 category,” he stated. To make the event a highly competitive athletic meet he divulged that outstation athletes have been invited. “We have invited 20 athletes from neighboring Maharashtra to the event which will act as a selection trial for the forthcoming athletic events at the West Zone, Inter-District and Junior levels which would be held in Vadodara, Vijayawada and Chennai respectively between October to November this year, “ Kamat elaborated.
With over 200 participants coming from distant places like Canacona, Sanvordem to take part in the meet which is scheduled for early starts on both days, stay facilities for 75 athletes have been made. The total budget of the Athletic Meet has been estimated to be at Rs. 3.5 lakh with SAG funding Rs 2 lakh and the rest coming through sponsorship. There would be cash prizes for Individual Championship and Team Championship. The U-8 and U-10 category events have been slated for Sunday, September 25 to ensure that the parents come and see their wards in action. The two-day Athletic Meet will take place from 8.30 am to 4.30 pm.
The inauguration will be held at 10 am on September 24 at the hands of VM Prabhudesai (Executive Director, SAG) in the presence of Gurudatta Bhakta, General Secretary (GOA) and MK. Shambhu (IFS), Conservator of Forests. The prize distribution function will be held at 3.30 pm on September 25 in the presence of Arun Bhat, Treasurer, SAG who will be the Chief Guest, Nitin Bandekar (Director, NRB Group), Guest of Honour, Namit Chimulkar, Director, Palasha Enterprises, Sanjay Bhobe (BM Bicholim Urban Co-op Bank Ltd.) and Francisco Sardinha, GAA President.
The media briefing was held in the presence of Goa Athletics Association Committee Members which included Francisco Sardinha (ex M.P.), President, Anita Rodrigues, Vice President, Gurudas Sawant, Joint Secretary, Paresh Kamat, General Secretary and Vijay Korjuvekar, Chairman, Selection Committee.
