THE GOAN | Network
CANACONA
While Sports Minister Ramesh Tawadkar expressed the need to take the sport of langdi to the "world stage", Langdi Federation of India (LFI) General Secretary Suresh Gandhi called it "the mother of all sports", making a vehement demand to include langdi in the school sports calender and thereafter in the National Games schedule.
Both were speaking at the prize distribution ceremony of the 7th Langdi National Championships at Adarsh Gram, Poinguinim, where Goan boys and girls won three of the four titles at stake in the event where 10 State teams participated.
Tawadkar said, "Every child has played langdi in one form or the other. We all have played it and enjoyed it. It is almost a foundation sport to prepare children for playing all other games at a later stage.
"We have an obligation to take langdi on the world stage, and our country and particularly Goa can play a big role in it," the Sports Minister stated.
Earlier speaking at the function, LFI General Secretary Gandhi said, "Langdi is the mother of all sports. A child who starts playing langdi at young age, gets himself/herself readied for playing all other sports in later stages of the life.
"Until 2007, langdi was played without any rules and regulations. Cheating and favouritism used to mar the game. Finally in 2008, we tried to frame the rules and regulations to make langdi a gentleman's game. Lots of flaws were rectified and controlled with introduction of rules for this beautiful game," Gandhi said. "To make the game even more popular, there is an urgent need to include langdi in school sports activities, and thereafter bring it on the National Games calender," Gandhi added.
