Sports Authority of Goa (SAG) distributed Rs 3,69,76,720 (Rs 3.69 crore) to 49 sports associations as 80 per cent for residential camps just about a month before the official start of the 37th National Games.
Goa finished the games with a tally of 92 medals, thus each medal cost the state exchequer Rs 4,01,920.86 (Rs 4.01 lakh).
Fourteen associations shared the 92 medals and from among these, medals for four associations – boxing, weightlifting, yogasana and sepak takraw – were won by players brought on loan from other states.
SAG disbursed Rs 41,19,600 to Goa Amateur Boxing Association (GABA), Rs 40,13,400 to Weightlifting Association of Goa (WAG) and Rs 42,99,600 to Sepak Takraw, with funds of Rs 26,25,000 not yet released for yogasana.
Football was released Rs 68,24,400 (80 per cent) from the Rs 85,30,500 requested for both styles of the game and the game ended with one silver in beach football, and the men’s football team finishing with one point in the group stage of the competition.
Handball, which is headed by former SAG Director V M Prabhudesai, was released the second highest amount – Rs 68,20,800 for outdoor and beach – and all contingents returned without a whiff of any medals.
Goa Yachting Association (GYA) received Rs 15,35,600 – the lowest – and finished with a tally of four medals, two of which were gold and the entire contingent consisted of athletes from Goa.
Pencak Silat, the sport that won the highest number of medals, 16, did so with Rs 36,98,400 received from SAG and netball that finished with one silver was recipient of Rs 54,30,000. Squash that won one gold received Rs 21,68,400.
The remaining 20 per cent of demand, according to a SAG letter to all associations, will be reimbursed after associations comply with the following seven points:
Documentary evidence of selection trials; date and venue of practice; list of players attending camps with all details wherein selected individuals can be contacted for cross verification; list of coaches with their details allowing verification; diet provided to players; attendance of players who attended the camps and acquaintance roll of players receiving transport allowance.