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National Games will be a game-changer for sports in Goa: Sawant
The Games will witness participation from 28 states and 8 union territories from Oct 26 to Nov 9.
With over 10,000 athletes competing in a record number of 43 disciplines, the 37th National Games is all set to open in Goa on Thursday in the backdrop of pristine beaches and a vibrant culture.
The National Games was revived last year after a gap of seven years and Gujarat hosted the 36th edition. Goa was initially scheduled to host the Games in 2016 but was delayed for a number of reasons including raising new infrastructure for the multi-sport event. The state government under chief minister Pramod Sawant, however, has overcome the challenges and prepared the stage for the biggest-ever National Games.
The Games will witness participation from 28 states and 8 union territories from Oct 26 to Nov 9. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the Games in Margao on Thursday.
Several sports such as beach football, roll ball, sepaktakraw, sqay martial arts, kalaripayattu, and pencak silat will make their debut while sports like gatka, lagori will bring local flavour to the Games. The Games will be held across five cities of Goa — Mapusa, Margao, Panjim, Ponda and Vasco -- in 22 venues.
"Goa is very excited to host the National Games. The preparation is over and the Hon'ble Prime Minister is coming for inauguration tomorrow, so definitely athletes and the whole state of Goa is enthusiastically waiting for the Games to open," said Sawant.
"This is going to be special and unique Games in terms of most no of disciplines (43), and 49 per cent women's participation. Besides, there will be local games like lagori, gatka. Then we have mallakhamb, kalaripayattu, yogasana, and being a coastal state, we have coastal and tidal rowing and many beach sports which will bring the local flavour."
The chief minister feels the National Games will be a tremendous boost for sports in the state. "Preparing the infrastructure was a major challenge and that's why it was delayed but, in my tenure, we have got state-of-the-art infrastructure ready in a short span. In future these sports facilities will be used by our sportspersons. It will also help us to host sporting events and win more medals for the state. The Games will attract more and more youth towards different sports and inculcate a healthy lifestyle."
"We aim to establish a thriving sports ecosystem in Goa. Just as tourists have long enjoyed our beautiful beaches, we now aim to attract sports enthusiasts from around the globe. Our objective is to elevate sports in Goa to new heights," said Sawant
