WEDNESDAY, APRIL 24, 2024
Team Herald
PANJIM: Former Executive Director of Sports Authority of India and Dy DG CWG 2010, Roque Dias said that Goans are being taken for a ride by various sports bodies by using the name of Goa.
Dias cited the instance of shooting when he was Administrator of Dr KSSR Shooting Ranges, Delhi in 2002.
“The Chairman of Organizing Committee of World Cup KP Singh Deo former Defence Minister of India, decided to replace the (45+06) 51 Trap and Skeet machines for the World Cup,” Dias said.
As a result of this plan, Dias urged Anil Madgaokar, who was then Secretary, Goa Olympic Association, to constitute a Goa Rifle Association (GRA), with the objective that the benefits would be accrued to Goans. Accordingly, MP Shripad Naik was made the President of GRA and a proposal was moved by Madgaokar, before the Central government to transfer the Italian-made trap and skeet machines to Goa, so that Goan sportsmen would benefit. The price of the new machines then was Rs 70 lakh.
However, since no action was forthcoming, former Union Minister Eduardo Faleiro tabled a question on July 22, 2003 in the Parliament, but it had no desired effect. Ultimately, it was objected to by the National Rifle Association of India, with the tacit support of officials from Kholapur, arguing that an Association existed called ‘Goa Daman and Diu Shooting Association’, which was being operated from Kolhapur.
“During those years, Goans were not allowed to represent in a shooting event held in Coimbatore in 2002, but the so-called Kholapuri “Goans” were allowed to represent the Goa, Daman and Diu Shooting Association, while genuine Goans were disallowed,” Dias said. He pointed out that there are still some Kholapur-based officials in the Association. This resulted in outsiders representing Goa in different events, he alleged.
Dias alleged that if manipulation by vested interests was prohibited, Goa would have got the Shooting Ranges in 2002 and declared that it was unfortunate that till date the State is struggling to have shooting Ranges for the National Games.
Meanwhile speaking to Herald, a former member of the Goa Rifle Association who wished to remain anonymous revealed that the Goa Daman and Diu Association was still functioning.
“There was an attempt to merge both Associations back in the late 1980s and a meeting was scheduled to be held with the SAG. However, nothing has materialised since then.”
“Since our Association is not recognised by the National Association, we were once forced to register one of our players under the Goa Daman and Diu Rifle Association so that he could participate in a National tournament which was held in Chennai,” revealed the former member.
“We earlier had a Delhi-based coach who was brought by the then DIG Police to train our Goan players. We even bought rifles kits from the National Association to organise coaching camps at the Don Bosco ground and Panjim Gymkhana,” stated the former member when questioned about the State-based association’s functioning.
He stated that there is a lot of talent and scope for rifle shooting in the State.
“The sport requires a lot of focus and concentration. We had a lot of players who excelled at State level championships in the past. However, it is a shame that such talent cannot be showcased at the National stage because of no proper recognition and affiliation.”
