Government sports scheme and funds are meant to tap and nurture the talent. But records prove otherwise especially when it comes to Sports Authority of Goa.
Did Dayne and Katya Coelho, the siblings from Calangute who participated in the recently concluded Asian Games in Indonesia in the sailing event meet the criteria? The question that troubles the Goan sports loving people as to why they have been cold shouldered by the SAG since 2015. We have to get the answers for this disdainful and unsporting behavior showed towards them by the SAG. Have they not proved their talent to the local government and the SAG? We now have to find out as to the reason why these two Goan Sailors were put into this kind of position and predicament at the Games. All that they had asked for was two windsurfing boards costing Rs.12 to 13 lakhs. But sadly that did not come about. Instead the father was left to fend for himself and had to air dash to Singapore from Thailand to get second hand boards. And that second hand equipment failed them. The sibling’s records for the past few years speak for them. Katya was the first and youngest participant to represent India at the Youth Olympics in Nanching, China in 2014. Dayne has dominated the National Championship for almost 7 years in the youth category and won his first senior category (men) Nationals at the age of 17 for which he was awarded the most promising yachtsman award. Dayne won the bronze medal in RS:ONE Class at the 37th Singapore Championship held in January 2018 and a silver and a bronze in Techno Class in Singapore in 2016. What is the use of sachems and scholarship if they cannot help deserving sportspersons. Have these two sailors not proved their talent? Are they not Goans? Would they not bring glory to the State? Asian championships, Olympics... are the benchmarks and Dayne was preparing for this since 2015. The participation records had been submitted to the SAG and their case for equipment has been pending since 2015. The most important thing here is that the authorities have failed to understand that all this is done not for their individual glory but to prove the superiority of our state and country. Coming to Prabhudessai claim that the names of the participants were finalised in June-July. We want to question Prabhudessai as to whether we nurture talent towards the fag end of the event when the D-day is close or for a period of time. Your department has failed to tap and train them well in advance. Donald Coelho has been sending you letters since 2015 asking for funds for their scientific training and equipment in preparation for the Asian games. Did you not have enough time to go through proper protocol? Why were they ignored? Other countries they were given good scientific training and sent abroad for better exposure and experience to compete with major countries, but we lacked in that. Support and encouragement came from their father Donald, who acted as their coach, sponsor, trainer etc, spending money from family funds. With the limited funds at his disposal, he took them abroad for a few weeks twice a year since 2015 spending over 2 crores dipping into family funds. He took them 19 times to South East Asia, as that is what he could afford and from that SAG funded twice, once a coaching camp in India with a foreign coach and the other an International exposure and twice by the Indian government but that too only partially like 40-60% funds came from them and rest the family had to bear. So, if with this limited training they came this far, imagine if SAG had to nurture this talent, would they not get medals for their country? Other countries send their sailors for months and months of training to Europe. Even some medalists from India at the Asian Games in sailing were sent for training in Europe many times and that is they were able to do hone their skills and make the country proud. Besides, it is not like they are asking for funds from the someone else’s pocket but our, it is our own taxpayer's money meant to be used in the right manner to the deserving and these two for sure deserved it. Another debatable point is that SAG was aware of their likely representation in the Asian games as Donald put in his proposal for two surfboards 5 months in advance! The boards were asked for the Asian Sailing Championship held in Jakarta in June which was the selection criteria where one had to finish in top 8 to get selected for the Asian games and this duo proved their talent and got selected using their own old equipment. The equipment has its wear and tear and at the Asian games, it gave way. Could SAG not go through all the protocol and finalise it for immediately knowing the urgency and they had more than 4 months? Donald the father and their coach add that Dayne has reached a level beyond his coaching capability to take him to the next level. Now our focus is the 2020 Olympics wherein International & scientific coaching has to be adopted as he is young and has reached a level which his records speak for themselves. I have brought him to this level with more than 90 % funds from our personal family resources. It has been a very frustrating journey but they have not given up on their dream to achieve a medal for their beautiful State Goa and India. Their next target is the Olympics in 2020 for Dayne. The big question remains, will they get the support for his training abroad and the necessary equipment from the SAG and Goa government or will it be the same old story of passing the buck saying it is for the Indian government to look after. Then what are the schemes and funds for from SAG if not to nurture the Goan talent. Will they not bring fame and glory for the small state of Goa? Will SAG fund them now for their training as Dayne aims to qualify for the Olympics? Tokyo 2020 is two years away and Dyane’s time starts now. Will SAG provide support to the sails or will he have to fight a lone battle. Certainly the Coelho’s need to get a better deal. Hopefully the government will not fail in helping the promising youngsters yet again.