Ignored by Goa, taekwondo stars take up coaching jobs in Kerala

PANAJI: He is the only Goan to win three gold medals at three different editions of the National, including the one at home last year.
He has won the taekwondo national championships a record 16 times, picked up two gold medals at the South Asian Games, one Commonwealth bronze too —achievements that won him the Dilip Sardesai Sports Excellence award (2015), the highest recognition for sports in the state.
Despite all the laurels that P Anand brought for Goa, his own state has snubbed and ignored him for years. On Tuesday, he joined the Sports Authority of India (SAI) centre of excellence in Thiruvananthapuram on a one-year contract.
Joining him in Kerala is his brother P Saravana Kumar, a silver medal winner at the last National Games in Goa and a champion player who has proved himself on the big stages.
“Goa must take better care of its athletes,” Anand told after joining his new posting on Tuesday.
For five years (2019-2024), he trained aspiring taekwondo players in Gujarat and was hopeful state govt would find a place for him.
“I know of 18 year olds who won medals at the National Games in Goa, went home and there was a job waiting for them. Many states have job provisions for elite athletes, but in Goa it’s a different, sad story. I have given my life to taekwondo. I am still hopeful that I’ll find something (in Goa).”
Anand etched his name in the record book when he defeated India international and Karnataka’s R Pritam in the over 87kg men’s final to win gold at last year’s National Games. He became the only Goan player to win three golds in three different editions of the National Games—2011 (Jharkhand), 2015 (Kerala) and 2023 (Goa).
He was understandably overjoyed, but nine months later, there’s nothing left to cheer about.
“We both brothers are working outside the state while our parents are at home (in Ponda). We want to work for Goa, produce players who can excel at a high level. Right now, it’s a difficult situation for us,” said Anand.
While Anand will be the coach at the SAI centre of excellence in Thiruvananthapuram, Saravana will be the assistant coach, after clearing the necessary tests and interviews for the job.
Until now, Saravana was also waiting in hope, working as a contracted physical education teacher at Kendriya Vidyalaya at Ponda.
Just like his brother, Saravana too is a champion taekwondo player who has won silver medals at two successive editions of the National Games. He was forced to settle for the silver in the under-80 category after losing to Delhi’s Shivansh, an Asian Games 2023 participant.
The brothers have already started their coaching assignment in Kerala, unable to wait any longer for that coveted call, or reward, from state govt.