इंग्लिश खबर
Goa Boxers Ready for National Games After Intensive Training Camp
Goa Khabar:Goa Amateur Boxing Association (GABA) is all set for the 37th National Games of India, where a team contingent of 13 boxers – 7 men and 6 women – will be participating. The team has been undergoing intensive training for close to 90-days now, under the guidance of experienced coaches and sports science professionals in Goa and through outbound training sessions.
The camp (non-residential) commenced on July 24 after a selection trials on July 21, 2023 at Salvador do Mundo, with national referee judges appointed. Until September 8, 2023 the boxers were given exposure training and competition with two teams that came in – the Services team and the team from JSW IIS, Bellary due to shortfall of boxers and partners. The boxers also attended a residential camp in two phases outside Goa as well, held in Bellary and later in Pune for the men’s team and in JSWIS-Bellary for the women’s team until October 21, 2023.
These camps helped the boxers to improve their skills and fitness, as well as to spar with partners from outside Goa, due to the lack of sufficient boxers and sparring partners in Goa, and train with other competitors of the competition.
In the final leg of training here in Peddem, the focus will be on technique and adapting to dynamic styles of opponents while keeping up on performance and endurance built all through.
The boxing team comprises several athletes, with men competing in weight categories ranging from 51 kg to 92+ kg, including AK Roshanzamir in the 51 kg category, Pralhad Harikrishna Panda in the 57 kg category; Akash Ramesh Gorkha in 63.5 kg; Rajat in 71 kg; Lokesh in 80 kg; Ayush Sai in 92 kg and Gaurav Chauhan in 92+ kg. On the women’s side, Sakshi represents the 50 kg category, Suman Shriram Yadav in the 52 kg, Alina Ajil Isidore Dsouza in the 57 kg, Niharika Sreeram Gonella in the 63.5 kg, Shrisha Bhaskar Jampula in the 66 kg, and Sanamacha Chanu Thokchom Sanatomba Thokchom in the 75 kg category.
The team will be escorted by our able and competent coaches Nilesh Khanolkar, Chitambaram Naik, Santosh Bhirmole, Velanky Dhumaskar and Madan Lal from the Services Sports Control Board as the coaches. Sarfaraz Hussain will lead the team as manager who is also a selector.
The president of GABA, Franky Veigas, congratulated the coaches and the support staff for their efforts in evaluating the boxers on a regular basis. “I am very proud of our team of boxers who have been working hard for the last three months at the residential camp. They have shown dedication, discipline and determination in their training. They have also benefited from the guidance of our coaches and sports science professionals who have helped them improve their skills, fitness and mental strength. I am confident that they will give their best at the national games and bring glory to Goa. I wish them all the best and I hope they enjoy the experience of competing at the highest level,” he said.
The training of the boxers was based on a systematic evaluation pattern for each sparring session. Sports science professionals were also involved for the first time to enhance the training. They included Dr Priyanka Ramchandani, physiotherapist, nutrition and diet experts from Diet Clinic, Mapusa, and Adrita Banerjee, the psychologist of the National boxing team, who have been assisting the boxers and the campers since July. Dr Ashwin Mascarenhas from Goa Medical College, has also been working with GABA and the boxers for a year has been addressing medical issues of boxers. He will also be part of the Games as the official doctor for Boxing that commences on November 1.
Working President of GABA, Ninil D’Souza praised the team and expressed her hope for a good performance at the national games. He said, “We have selected the best team of boxers for the national games based on various criteria, having a balance of experienced Goan boxers and those who have shown improvement and potential in the camp.”
Treasurer of GABA and in- charge of the National Games team preparation Danuska Da Gama informed that attendance, performance and improvement, punctuality, technique and tactics, and ring experience and risk of injuries were given importance too, just as followed in the national coaching camps. “A thorough evaluation process was put in place for each sparring session. The coaches, selection committee and the association have evaluated the boxers on these aspects and have maintained documentary and video evaluation of all the bouts,”she informed.
GABA is confident that the team will perform well at the national games and secure medals, just as we have at every National Games. “We are proud of our boxers and we support them fully, and thank the Minister of Sports, Govind Gaude, Sports Authority of Goa, Goa Olympic Association and all our sponsors who have supported us all through,” Viegas concluded.