MARGAO
The Association for the Wellbeing of Elder Sportspersons (AWES) is set to host its annual sports festival, get-together, and felicitation ceremony for veteran sportspersons on March 22nd at the Sinquetim Sports Complex in Navelim, starting at 7 PM.
Powered by Sesa-Vedanta, this annual event will bring together former athletes, officials, and administrators to celebrate the spirit of sports and reminisce about their shared sporting history.
A highlight of the evening will be the special felicitation of three distinguished Goans: Armando Colaco, the first Goan recipient of the prestigious Dronacharya Award; Digambar Kamat, the first Goan elected to the World Aquatic Bureau; and Marcus Mergulhao, the first Goan to win the Press Council of India’s National Award for Excellence in Journalism.
AWES will also honor numerous former sportspersons, officials, and administrators who have significantly contributed to the development of sports in Goa. Among those to be recognized are Dilip Salgaoncar (sports promoter), Anil Madgavkar (Olympics sports), Rosephyl Menezes and Michael D'Sa (badminton champions), Vero Nunes and Subhash Pandit (table tennis champions), Perpetua Jacques and Shripad Kundaikar (athletics), Adv Daniel Rodrigues and Avelino Pereira (volleyball), Jovito Lopes (administration/sports journalism), Tommy Menezes (hockey), Vishnu Mahale (water polo/swimming), Luis Fernandes (basketball), Bernard Pereira, Bento Endro, Peter Valles, Oscar Rebelo, David D'Souza, Milagres Tereza, Gregory Estrocio, Domingos Barreto, and Fr. Eremita Coutinho (football).
Sports Minister Govind Gaude will grace the occasion as the chief guest.
Prior to the evening's festivities, a series of games and sports activities for veterans will commence at 5:00 PM at the Sinquetim Sports Complex.
Established in 2016 by prominent sportspersons, AWES aims to recognize and celebrate the contributions of Goa's elder sports figures, who have often been overlooked in their later years.
"At AWES, we have worked to bring these legends back into the spotlight, and it is incredibly rewarding to see their joy during our gatherings," said AWES President Derrick Pereira, a former football international and India U-23 coach. "We owe them immense respect for the joy they brought us in the past."
The event is co-sponsored by Vimson: Shivanand Salgaocar Group, Dempo Group of Companies, FC Goa, and Sporting Clube de Goa.
