Goa’s Ansh Gaonkar captures Hockey India’s imagination

ARMSTRONG VAZ

Ansh Gaonkar, a student from Damodar English High School in Gudi-Paroda, practices hockey on a dirt and pebble-strewn village ground near his school and home.

This open space in Gudi, which lacks a formal name, serves as Gaonkar's practice field. There is no need for permission from Sports Authority of Goa (SAG) or Directorate of Sports and Youth Affairs (DYSA) to practice on this ground.

It’s reminiscent of a bygone era when athletes could easily find open areas — like paddy fields in the summer or all-season fields like this one in Gudi — to practice their sport.

Although sports infrastructure has been developed in towns, semi-urban villages, and even in some remote areas, access is still limited. These facilities often lack coaches, and playing on them requires permission from the Sports Authority of Goa (SAG) and the Directorate of Sports and Youth Affairs (DYSA). Additionally, these grounds are usually locked and inaccessible throughout the year.

However, Ansh, his teammates, and their coach, Amit Dessai, do not face these issues. They set their own training schedule. There is full support from their school management, but sadly there is no backing from Goans Hockey, the state body responsible for hockey, or from the Goa government.

“Damodar English High School in Gudi-Paroda has not received any support from Goans Hockey or the Goa government for their hockey endeavour,” says sports journalist Sandeep Redkar, who has closely observed the development of the sport in Gudi.

He explains, “They don’t have an astroturf practice ground and instead train on the village field.” Redkar adds in Konkani, “Shetan practice kortat te,” which means, “They are practicing in the fields.”

Despite practicing on a field, Ansh did not let this hinder his performance. At last month’s Sub-junior Championship in Surat, Gujarat, Ansh, this Gudi native scored an outstanding goal and made his father, Ankush Gaonkar, proud. He skilfully dribbled past seven opponents to score the sole goal for Goa in their 11–1 defeat against Chhattisgarh Hockey.

His goal did not go unnoticed. Hockey India officials applauded it and so did his school Physical Education teacher, who the manager of the team.

It's not the fault of the dedicated Physical Education teachers who strive to nurture these budding talents. It's not the school management that deserves blame for the inadequate facilities.

There appears to be a systemic failure affecting the development of hockey talent in Goa. Private enterprises, along with the Goans Hockey (which controls the sport in the state), and both state and central governments, have neglected the hockey players coming from semi-rural areas.

While hockey has evolved globally -- from being played on grass to artificial astro turf -- Goa has not kept pace with this advancement. The sport of hockey in Gudi Paroda is still played on rudimentary dirt field that lacks even basic grass coverage.

The red virgin soil of Goa has produced many football players for the country but till now no hockey player from the state has made it to the national team. However, Goan players, born and raised elsewhere in the country, have played hockey for India, but none who played and learnt the game in Goa have made it to the national level.

Goans based in different countries have gone and played for the countries they have settled in and made their home, but Goa is still looking for local, home-grown hockey heroes and heroines.

When it comes to the modern game of hockey, the transition from playing on dirt to astroturf is more than just a change of surface—it's a profound challenge that can break the spirits of young, hopeful players. Imagine the dedication and passion of these young athletes, who train tirelessly on uneven, dusty grounds, only to face the daunting task of adapting to the fast-paced world of astroturf.

Goans Hockey administrators have failed to see the struggles of young players and recognised the deep, aching need for change. They should have understood the heart-breaking reality that these passionate athletes, who pour their hearts and souls into the game, are being held back by the very system that should nurture them.

Since 2009, when Goans Hockey was officially formed, all that has been control and rotation of key positions — secretary, vice president, treasurer— and complete absence of genuine effort to promote and nurture hockey talent in Goa.

For the records, Goans Hockey has several clubs from North and South Goa under its ambit, but all that the players see are inaction that has cast a shadow over their dreams of playing the game at a higher level.

Sydney Fernandes, a former state-level hockey player now based in England, points out to the the lack of development in Goa hockey.

He rued Goans Hockey has not initiated youth development programmes and that players only get exposure to astroturf during local tournaments or state selections.

Fernandes believes that North Goa, the primary hockey hub, has been neglected in favour of South Goa, where he argues that a 5-a-side pitch should have been installed to encourage local practice.

From what Sydney observes, Goa hockey has a long way to go before national selectors start taking note of local talents like Ansh Gaonkar. His story is not just a tale of perseverance but a testament to the untapped potential within Goa's hockey community.