Panaji: A former national windsurfing champion, Donald Coelho has never been short on belief.So, when the Asian Games Selection Trials were being conducted in Mumbai by the Yachting Association of India, Donald had little to worry about his children’s performance. He wasn’t’ wrong as Dayne and Katya, both accomplished sailors, won the men’s and women’s iQFOiL categories against the nation’s finest sailors.The victories were on expected lines; both had won gold at the National Games in Goa in 2023, but an incident during the second race when a competitor almost crashed into Dayne left the father deeply disturbed.“Let them be out there (in the waters), unobstructed, and let them display their talent. I bet they will win all the races,” Donald told TOI recently. “So much happened during the trials, but I am glad that finally they managed to ace the trials. It was difficult. Sometimes I wonder why I pushed them into this sport. They could have just managed (family) business.”Winning the Asian Games Selection Trials is only half the battle won. As per the performance pathway aligned with the Indian Olympic Association (IOA), the selected sailors must finish within the top six among Asian nations at designated international events abroad to meet the final qualification benchmark.“Dayne took part in the world championships (in Denmark) last year and finished fifth among Asian competitors. I am certain that he will not just qualify for the Asian Games but should be in contention for a medal. Imagine, with just little training, he did well at the Worlds. If he gets enough support for quality training and international exposure, he will be in the reckoning.
Katya Coelho won the women’s iQFOiL categories at the Asian Games Selection Trials in Mumbai
“Katya’s achievements are there for all to see. She has now qualified for her third consecutive Asian Games, a rare and remarkable achievement that reflects consistency at the highest level of performance. She spent sleepless nights (when her name was not cleared by the sports ministry in 2022) in the run up to the last Asiad. We just need proper support to make the medal dream come true,” said Donald.According to Donald, when Katya approached the Goa Yachting Association for equipment assistance, she was asked for a security deposit of `5 lakh. “The demand came as a severe emotional setback during a decisive stage of national selection,” said the father.The equipment used by both siblings during the trials was purchased by the family at an estimated cost of Rs 12 lakh. The Coelhos have also hired a foreign personal coach so that they are not caught on the wrong foot with preparations for major events.“The coach has been with Dayne for almost eight months. Previously, we used to hire coaches on short-term basis but that didn’t help much, so we had to bring in someone on a full-time basis,” said Donald.2026 will be crucial for the Coelhos. The Asian Games take place in Japan later this year. Before that, the siblings need to make a mark in international competitions to be on the flight to Aichi–Nagoya for the continental showpiece.“My children need international exposure, high-performance equipment and financial backing for elite preparation,” said Donald. “The state govt must step forward. Prior to the National Games (at home), we had told the govt, allow us to train abroad (in Italy) for a month and we will ensure they win a medal for Goa, regardless of the competition. Govt allowed and they both won gold. But we are still waiting for the promised funds.”
