MARGAO
Former Quepem MLA and Town and Country Planning Minister Babu Kavlekar is happy with the way the Sepaktakraw game has progressed over the years and the results are showing at the ongoing National Games with the hosts making it to the semi-finals in all the four categories.
At the National Games players are competing in four events: men team event, men quad event, men regu event and women team event.
Babu who is the President of Goa Sepaktakraw Association and also the Chairman of the Indian Sepaktakraw Association said he saw the growth from its infancy stage in Goa to its present one.
“I was asked by Krishna Karade, a physical education teacher attached to Cuncolim Educational Society’s Higher Secondary to take the post of President and over the last two decades I have seen the game grow in terms of talent, and also the results are there to showcase.”
He complimented Krishna, a cricket fast bowler in his younger days, saying that he always took special interest to promote sports persons not just from cricket but from other sports too.
“Krishna is a guru of Sepaktakraw in Goa, he introduced the game in the state and we joined in to help his (Krishna) efforts and thanks to the support of the officials, coaches and talent in the state the game has grown.”
“We have had some fantastic results in the national championship and at the Asian Games the Indian team also performed well,” he added.
Asked to describe the game for people who are not well versed with it, Babu said the game is a mixture of volleyball and football.
“Here you use your feet and legs to send the ball across the set, just like you use your hands to play volleyball. It is a highly skillful game and requires a lot of practice and focus from the players.”
He said a lot of players from the state team have gone on to join government services in various capacities and are grateful for the valuable lessons they learn from the game.
“Many a times I meet our former players and they have interesting stories to tell of how the game has helped them in terms of fitness and to help the various physical tests prescribed by various government agencies,” he added.
