The State association coach L Honi Singh, a thrice International and who coaches India-prospects at national camps, reveals that Krishna Bandivaddar and Manjunath Kallimangi (among boys) and Jaina Langoljam and Shilpa Kallimangi (girls) are the young sparks in sepaktakraw from Goa set to ignite on a larger stage in the future
Basil Sylvester Pinto
Panaji
Yashodhan Kharade may not be a name known in sport to the country, but the lanky lad from Cuncolim is a name synonymous to sepaktakraw not only to the State, but having represented the country with distinction is a force to reckon with in the 'kick ball' sport. Yashodhan was initiated into the sport when in Std VII. It was not long after that he began to participate competitively with his first nationals at the sub-juniors in Patna, Bihar. Ever since, he has been playing continuosly and till date, he has represented Goa in two sub-junior and 10 senior nationals, as also he has the pride to be a part of the Indian team for three Internationals. To his merit, he has won a gold medal at the South Asian Sepaktakraw Championship (Team Event) at Kathmandu, Nepal in 2012. That same year, he won a gold in the doubles event playing for Goa senior men at the Nationals in Hyderabad. The genial athlete has also secured a silver medal at Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh for Goa in the senior men doubles event at the nationals in 2014.
For the PE teacher at LD Sawant Memorial High School, Porvorim, Sepaktakraw means a lot to him as it has disciplined him and he looks at the sport as a career. He has his eyes set in representing the country at the next Asian Games. To this, he discloses for the last two Asian Games held in 2010 and 2014 respectively, he has attended four camps held in Hyderabad, Manipur and Goa (2010) and as many as six camps in Hyderabad in preparation of the 2014 edition of the mega event, but unfortunately, did not make the final cut.
Lehala Gomes from Panzorkoni was introduced to the sport in Std XI when her PE Sir at Cuncolim United taught her how to play the sport and she took it up as she found it interesting. She went on to pursue the sport religiously until her graduation at CES College. But then, in time, she took a three year break when matrimony came along and she bore a child. But with her recent return to competitiveness, she admits to finding it difficult to rediscover her old form but she gradually regained her spark. She took to participation in the Regu, Doubles and Team Events on the advice of her coach L Honi Singh. Shrugging off her lengthy lay-off, for the recently concluded Seniors Nationals she began practice for the said tourney only 15 days prior but she is happy to state that she was back on top of her game. She reveals that she has played in two internationals. In 2010, in Bangkok, she was among the Indian Women who secured the third place in the Team Event. The following year, also in Bangkok, she represented the country in the Women's Team Event and Hoop Takraw as well.
Manisha Devidas, the Canacona-based woman, on her part, says that when in Std. VII while studying at Katyayani Baneshwar Vidyalaya, Canacona, she recalls having won the Best Sportswoman Award in her school. Noticing her, trophy in hand, one of the founders of sepaktakraw in Goa, Vishnu Dessai, asked her if she would you like to take up the sport to which came her affirmative reply. And since, 15 years on, she has been participating competitively expecting that in 2005-06 when she took a break to pursue fashion designing. The NIS certified diploma-holder in sepaktakraw while looking forward to impart her experience to youngsters in the sport has also the pride of representing India in the same events as her State and India team-mate.
