Goa’s first Pink Cricket Centre at Sanquelim

Sanquelim: In a significant step towards promoting women’s cricket in the state, the Goa Cricket Association (GCA) on Friday inaugurated Goa’s first Pink Cricket Centre at the Sanquelim Municipal Ground.
The centre aims to provide dedicated infrastructure and opportunities for aspiring women cricketers, encouraging greater participation and nurturing talent at the grassroots level.
The inauguration ceremony was held in the presence of Chief Guest Sulakshana Sawant,
wife of Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant and Chairperson of Padmini Foundation, and Guest of Honour Siddhi Porob, Chairperson of Sankhali Municipal Council. Several GCA office bearers and members were also present, including GCA Secretary Tulsidas Shetye, Vice President Paresh Fadte, Member Viraj Phadke, former GCA President Vipul Phadke, and Prashant Phatarpekar, President of Eagles Sports Club and GCA Coordinator.
Speaking on the occasion, the dignitaries highlighted the importance of creating inclusive sporting platforms and expressed confidence that the Pink Cricket Centre would play a key role in the development of women’s cricket in Goa.
Sawant said the players from Sattari and Bicholim areas will benefit from this initiative.
“We are seeing that in Sanquelim, not only football and cricket but various other workshops and training are being conducted. Credit goes to Eagle Sports Club for their work over the past 10 years. This centre will have women coaches which is a good thing. Lot of efforts are being put by GCA and BCCI,” she said.

Shetye said there 3 centres at Porvorim, Cujira, Chicalim and Margao will be opened.

“We have taken inspiration from the Pink Force of the Goa police who are women personnel,” he said.

Phadke said that the project is a vision put forth by GCA.
“This is a clear intent and a promise to young budding cricketers that the era of women empowerment is being given focus. GCA’s intent was to start centres at various areas and while we were focusing on boys, at Sanquelim, we found that there was maximum interest shown by girls, which was around 36 of them. And we plan to start another 3 centres. It is an honour to get the centre inaugurated by Ms Sawant,” he said.

“We need to focus on women empowerment and right from Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Chief Minister Pramod Sawant and Sanquelim Municipality, all are working towards this goal. I am positive that our Goan women players will rise up to play in the WPL as well,” he said.

The initiative has been undertaken by the GCA in association with Eagles Sports Club. Under Jay Shah who is now ICC chairman and former BCCI Secretary, women cricketers were given pay parity, he said.

“I congratulate the parents for sending their girls to the centre, as many times parents hesitate to send their kids. I want to assure the parents that this is a very safe place for girls to fulfil their dreams and future. Under the able guidance of GCA, they will rise up and they will make Goa proud,” he said.

He also urged the girls to give focus on every minute spent at the ground.
“For every minute spent on the ground, play with intent. Don’t come here and make it a routine to play or bowl a few balls. Respect the coaches efforts who are at level 2. Your parents as well as we at GCA are looking forward to seeing you play in WPL or at the national level. GCA will provide you with full support,” he said.