PANAJI
A fresh window of opportunity has opened for Goan windsurfer Dayne Coelho’s Asian Games hopes, with newly elected Goa Olympic Association President and Rajya Sabha MP Sadanand Shet Tanavade taking up his case with the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) and the Union sports ministry.
Tanavade has sought a review of Dayne’s eligibility for the 20th Asian Games 2026, scheduled from September 19 to October 4 in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, pointing to the sailor’s current standing and international record. Dayne finished on top among 11 competitors at the Yachting Association of India’s Asian Games Selection Trial-II, winning all four races and returning a net score of six points, placing him No. 1 among the Indian competitors in the event.
The 15-year international campaigner has also represented India at the 2018 Asian Games and finished fifth among Asian competitors at the 2025 iQFOiL World Championship in Aarhus, Denmark, with a best race finish of 15th in a fleet of 60. The Goa Yachting Association has also been pursuing the matter through the National Sports Federation with SAI and the IOA, seeking consideration of Dayne’s and other sailors’ cases.
Tanavade has addressed his representation to IOA president PT Usha and Union Minister for Youth Affairs and Sports Mansukh Mandaviya, urging that Dayne’s candidature be assessed on merit and within the prescribed Government eligibility criteria. His intervention comes as Goa celebrates the selection of Dayne’s sibling, Katya Coelho, for the 20th Asian Games in Women’s Windsurfing. Congratulating Katya on earning the prestigious honour, Tanavade noted that two Goans have now secured selection for the 2026 Games, with badminton player Tanisha Crasto, selected for the Mixed Doubles and Women’s Team events, being the other.
The Goa Olympic Association’s Annual General Meeting on August 25 had earlier passed a congratulatory motion recognising the achievements of both Katya and Tanisha. In Dayne’s case, Tanavade has also sought verification of withdrawal reports concerning Singapore’s Elkan Oh, whose ranking has a bearing on the present benchmark, and examination of the relevance of any Under-23 World Championship points in the ranking calculation before the final Indian contingent is determined.
