PANAJI
Do any of the eight Sports Authority of Goa (SAG) coaches currently train girls in boxing? That was the pointed question raised by Goa Amateur Boxing Association (GABA) Vice President Lenny Gama in response to the ongoing controversy over the selection of outstation boxers to represent Goa.
Gama, a long-serving boxing official who has held various roles at the state, national, and international levels, stated, “Do any of the SAG boxing coaches have girls training with them in boxing?”
SAG has deployed eight coaches across Goa to conduct training for different age groups, including juniors and sub-juniors.
Meanwhile, GABA General Secretary Hemant Nagwekar refused to respond to questions regarding the alleged import of players from other states and possible age-related irregularities, directing all queries to Gama instead.
Defending the selection process, Gama asserted that all rules had been followed and that all formalities for outstation players were duly completed.
“When they are in the SAI Hostel, Mapusa, why can’t they play for the Goa state team?” he asked.
On the issue of age verification, Gama added, “All the medical records submitted are from recognized medical institutions.”
However, when specifically asked whether age verification tests were conducted at Goa Medical College, as demanded by several SAG coaches, he evaded the question, reiterating only, “The tests are from valid medical colleges and institutions.”
Gama also denied allegations about a particular sub-junior boxer — a trainee at the SAI Hostel, Mapusa — who, according to local coaches and boxers, is studying in Grade XI in Uttar Pradesh, which would make her ineligible for the sub-junior category. Gama refuted the claim, insisting, “She is studying in a local school in Mapusa.”
For context, the SAI Hostel in Mapusa houses female boxers, while the SAI Hostel in Ponda accommodates judo athletes. The athletics and football wings of SAI in Goa have since been shut down.
According to sources, the original mandate of the SAI hostel in Goa was to promote local talent with a 70:30 ratio in favour of Goan athletes. However, the current scenario reflects a reverse trend, with most of the boxers now coming from other states.
When questioned about this shift, Gama responded, “What are SAI hostel officials supposed to do if local boxers don’t attend the trials during the selection process?”
"This is very bad, what is happening in Goan Sports. Why is there a need for sports associations if they are not promoting local talent and in fact killing local talent, derecognizing the associations for fraudulent practices and sending them home," said Fernando Dias, a former state level hockey player.
