PANAJI: Goa’s Dayne Coelho won the gold medal in the RS:X men’s class at the YAI Senior Multi-Class Regatta (MDL Cup) and topped the Asian Games Selection Trials after the fourth and final leg held in Mumbai, recently.
With this achievement, Dayne has created history by becoming the first Goan to qualify two times in a row for the Asian Games in any individual sport.
Dayne’s sister Katya Coelho bagged silver medal in the IQ Foil women’s class at the MDL Cup, which concluded on 15th May. Katya, who also represented India at the Asian Games 2018 in Jakarta, is in the hunt to follow into her brother’s footsteps. Her fate will be decided during the last leg of the selection trials for the IQ Foil section, which will be held from 20th to 25th May 2022 in Mumbai.
Riding on his success at the recently concluded 3rd leg selection trials organised by Goa Yachting Association (GYA) at home (Dona Paula bay) earlier in April wherein he had won the gold medal for Goa, Dayne went into the deciding leg, knowing the task at hand. It was not easy as the fight went on till the last race and he was constantly up against his his closest rival Ebad Ali of the Army Yachting Node, who eventually finished in the silver medal position in Mumbai as well.
“Dayne Coelho who was one of the first recipients of Goa Government’s scheme for ‘Achieving Excellence in Sports at International Level’ has proved that a little help and encouragement from the government can go a long way in helping Goan sportspersons to reach the highest level in their respective field. GYA is thankful to the Government of Goa and SAG for their support and is hopeful that this will continue so that our sportspersons can continue to achieve their true potential and go on to represent our country at the Olympics,” states the GYA in a press release.
