PANAJI
The Goa Table Tennis Parents Association (GTTPA) has questioned the State government's lopsided expenditure on the training of non-Goan paddlers at the Khelo India State Centre of Excellence (KISCE) in Campal while expressing "shock and dismay" for treating the Goan players as "second-rate citizens".
"Goa government spends crores of rupees on this (KISCE) scheme. But, for whom? 21 out of the 24 players are non-Goans (in table tennis) at the Goa State Khelo India Excellence Centre at the indoor stadium in Campal. First of all, no infrastructure to practise is given to Goans. And worse, the little infrastructure to practise at Campal is given to non-Goan players," GTTPA said in a press statement.
"From 2018 when the stadium was renovated, our space was denied to us even when the Director of SAG has moved the file for partitioning the stadium. To rub salt to injury, the government decided to have Khelo India State Centre of Excellence for residential players with rigid conditions like players not being allowed to go home for months or could not meet their parents for months, thereby dissuading the players from enrolling in the academy.
"The table tennis players of Goa are shocked and dismayed with the government of Goa and Sports Authority of Goa for treating the Goan players as second-rate citizens compared to non-Goan players. Till the year 2017, the Goan players used to practise at the Indoor Stadium with 10 tables. Various camps were organised under Chinese, Korean, and German coaches besides national champions like Kamlesh Mehta. Needless to say, the standard of Goa was high ” winning medals at Nationals as well as international tournaments. Our players also represented India in the past.
"All appeals to the government by players and Goa Table Tennis Association (GTTA) have fallen on deaf ears. As a result, the players cannot perform in the tournaments against players who are not only given 12 tables to practise but all equipment with coaches, trainers, managers, directors, massagers, lodging, boarding, food, schooling etc.
"A few years back, the authorities had committed to give TT a separate stadium. All the plans were drawn up with the active participation of officials of GTTA. The GTTA has given approval for the plans but the ministry hasn't taken any action.
The association said as the Goan players cannot practise at the stadium and an "unfair advantage" is given to non-Goan players, the table tennis players, as a protest, "will refrain from playing tournaments held in Goa till the government restores their infrastructure facilities in North and South districts and divert the funds being spent on Khelo India's non-Goan players to give proper facilities in Goa.
"Additionally, GTTA is to take action not to allow non-Goans to participate in Goa ranking tournaments. In spite of having performed creditably in the past at the National and International level, table tennis will die in Goa ” solely due to the attitude of the government," the GTTPA statement concluded.
