As date draws near, Goa gets ready for National Games 2023

BY AUGUSTO RODRIGUES

The infrastructure for the National Games was in place before it was postponed and later held in Gujarat. The government is now working on repairs and maintenance as the dates to host the National Games 2023 is near.

“All infrastructure work is complete. Goa was ready to host the games earlier had it not been for the pandemic. The focus now is on getting the venues in shape for the games,” stated a senior member from the Chief Minister's Office (CMO) on condition of anonymity.

“Sports like cycling and shooting will be held in New Delhi and the remaining 35 disciplines already decided by IOA will be held in Goa. We are yet to hear from IOA whether the other indigenous sports will be added,” added the member from CMO.

Goa, it may be noted, was to host 35 sports in 24 facilities created for the event. Thirteen sports disciplines were then scheduled to be held in facilities created in South Goa; three in the Ponda multipurpose stadium; and twenty in North Goa.

“Since it is not possible to use the Sawalwada stadium, kabaddi and weightlifting, the two sports to be held there, will be shifted to some other venue,” added a member from the CMO overlooking the preparations.

“PWD engineers have already visited the swimming pool in Campal and a few repairs will be done before this weekend. The 50-metre pool will be used for competition along with the diving pool. The 25-metre pool will be utilized for warm-up and the swimming pool in Peddem will be kept as stand by,” admitted a member from the CMO.

Men's football will be held at the Tilak maidan in Vasco and women's in Utorda.

“It is true that the baseball court in Campal is devoid of any playing surface. Events were held there in the past but a team has been assigned to get the ground ready in schedule and their timetable will be made available soon,” admitted a source in the Sports Authority of Goa (SAG).

As planned for the National Games in 2020, archery will this time also be held at the Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru stadium in Fatorda whilst tennis is to be held at the multipurpose ground there.

“There were complaints that the water flow was not sufficient for the swimming pool in Campal. Our engineers visited the site and apart from finding a solution to the problem, grouting work is being done in some pools,” stated a member of the PWD.

“A lot of the problems that have come up is because the stadiums or sports facilities were not properly maintained. We are putting in place things that are in disrepair. These are not time-consuming works,” stated an engineer present at one of the sites.

The Manohar Parrikar indoor stadium in Navelim has been earmarked for kho kho, handball and netball whilst rugby has been assigned to the football ground in Benaulim.

Beach volleyball and beach handball will be held at the Miramar beach and taekwondo, wrestling and judo at the Ponda Multipurpose hall. Squash will be hosted at the new Chicalim squash facility and lawn bowling at the Chicalim multi-purpose ground.

Plans are afoot in SAG to host basketball, volleyball and fencing at the Shyama Prasad Mukherjee stadium in Taleigao and athletics at the athletic stadium in Bambolim.

Plans are also afoot to host rowing, canoeing and kayaking at the Old Goa jetty. Yachting will be held at the Hawaii beach in Dona Paula and modern pentathlon from three venues- Shyama Prasad Mukherjee, Campal swimming pool and athletics stadium, Bambolim.

“The groundwork for the National Games was already laid before. The implementation begins now and that by itself is not a big task,” stated another member of SAG.