Currently, Reagan Pinto is busy lad. After completing arigorous training schedule in Bangalore, he hopes he is a worth member of theGoa Ranji team for the ongoing Moin-ud-daulah trophy. Apart from being popularfor his all-round performance in cricket, Reagan was known, until some timeago, as a successful table tennis (TT) player before he decided to make aswitch.
An eight year old Reagan used to accompany his elder brotherRussel, who used to play TT. Before Reagan realised it, he was playing thesport and playing it well. However, after six years of his career in TT, he switchedto cricket. Reagan adds, “As I had achieved what I wanted to achieve in TT, Ididn’t see any point in doing something that didn’t drive me. Initially, Icould manage both TT and cricket but as I started taking cricket moreseriously, I had to give up TT four years back, as it was getting difficult tomanage fitness levels.”
The transition came with few compromises as, according toReagan, leaving TT was emotionally difficult for the first couple of years,knowing that he won’t be playing the game anymore. But, adapting to cricketwasn’t difficult at all. He feels, in a way, the hand and eye coordinationskills he had acquired in TT, helped him in cricket too.”
With names like Swapnil Asnodkar and Shadab Jakati havingmade it big in IPL, Reagan is one of the youngsters in Goa waiting for anopportunity to prove their worth. According to Reagan, one cannot predict theselection process simply because it is based on various factors. He says, “Allyou can do is play well. You have to continue giving your best and wait foropportunities that come your way.”
Recently, there was buzz about politics in cricket which, accordingto experts, is hampering the progress of cricket in Goa. When asked Reaganabout his take on the issue, he goes on the back foot, preferring to talk aboutthe future of the game in Goa, especially with the state cricket team doingwell for the past five-six years. He says, “With tournaments like GPL beingorganised, people in Goa are taking cricket more seriously now. I think it’sreally picking up now and in another two years’ time, it will improve evenmore.”
