Despite the vagaries of the weather, most of the 1,256 skaters from all over India – including 84 from Goa – tried to finish the 6th National Ranking Open Roller Skating Championship 2024, organised by the Goa Skating Association on the tarred surface opposite the SGPDA in Margao.
Goa finished near the top, but participation was the learning curve athletes were looking for, and those who got it, returned happy.
“My son was nursing an injury, but he took part in order to get a feel of the competition,” stated Vaishali Dhavlikar, who was accompanying her 14-year-old son.
Skating is relatively new in Goa with youngsters still trying to gain control of skateboards. But, it was the enthusiasm displayed by the parents, of the participants, on a roll at the end of three days of hot conditions and a final spell of rain.
“Being in the heat or at the receiving end of the rains is part of the competition. Deciding to come to Goa was easier because I bundled in a holiday, too,” said Deep Raina who flew in with his son from Jammu and Kashmir.
Skating starts with the 5-7 age category, and moves up to 7-9, 9-11, 11-14, 14-17 and above 17 years, that is the seniors.
No skater from Goa could finish among the top four in any category though the enthusiasm of the parents left a story of hope for the future.
There is no skating rink in Goa, but the Goa Skating Association president, Milind Desai, hopes things will fall in place soon, expecting largesse from the government.
“We have been promised land on lease in Davorlim by the chief minister,” admitted Desai.
Like Dhavlikar from Goa, Raina from J&K also believes it is the role of the parents to provide space for children to be free to enjoy the sport of their choice.
“There are facilities for skating at our place, but that does not deter me from taking my son to places where competitions are being organised. It was hot here, but bearing the heat is part of sport,” reasons Raina.
Through three days of heat, a lot of children suffered skin bruises and according to officials manning the ambulance, two children, aged around 12, had to be taken to hospital due to heat fatigue.
“The two children taken to hospital were discharged soon. It was too hot, and it was more of a heat stroke that they went through,” added the nurse at the venue.
The races started in the morning, with a break for lunch, and it left officials, most from different parts of India, soiling their kerchiefs with sweat.
Officiating in tournaments is always cumbersome,” quipped official, James.
The participants had to fend for their snacks and water during the competition, whilst the officials did not. And, many thought, “The meals provided could have been better.”
Desai, however, thought that “since the meals were provided by a reputed company,” there could be no reason to complain. “They are supposed to be the best,” he said.
As the rain clouds burst on the last evening, there was relief and a cloud of dejection, with parents of participants being informed at 9.30 pm that the races were postponed to 7 am the next morning, weather permitting.
“We are going to the hotel room as we have a flight early next morning. We cannot wait till tomorrow. My son participated in a few races, and that is enough,” said Ram from Tamil Nadu, as he tried to scurry to the hotel with the bag on top of his head.
Children and parents could be seen sitting under trees – wherever possible – and just three mobile toilets were made available.
“This is a sacrifice I have to do for my child,” smiled Askana from Raipur, as the heat began to take its toll after the rain of the previous evening.
“There was a canopy provided for teams from each State, but they did not use them,” replied Desai when asked why adequate canopy cover was not provided to the participants.
As the curtains came down and certificates were being distributed, the parents finished as the biggest winners of the championship.