Tanisha, Goa's daughter, is first to make it to Olympics

PANAJI: Tanisha Crasto has won a stunning battle to make it to the Olympics after she and her senior women's doubles partner Ashwini Ponnappa confirmed their berth for Paris 2024. Tanisha and Ashwini are ranked 20th overall in the Race to Paris rankings and are the 12th eligible pair for an automatic Olympics berth. Sixteen teams will take part in women's doubles."It's been her dream to represent India at the Olympics and she has worked very, very hard to achieve qualification," her father, Clifford, told TOI on Thursday."Tanisha has gone through a lot."When Tanisha takes to the court in Paris in July, she will become the 23rd 'Goan' to represent India at Olympics. Significantly, the shuttler will be the only sportsperson in recent memory to have represented Goa at national championships and then made it to Olympics, the biggest stage available for any sportsperson.Born in Dubai, Tanisha started her career in the Gulf but at age 15, she had to make the big decision of taking it easy in the UAE or move to India and climb up the badminton ladder the hard way.She decided to dive into the hugely-competitive world of Indian badminton and has represented Goa since 2017, winning the junior and senior nationals multiple times.Her father, Clifford Crasto, is born in Margao, while her mother hails from Loutolim. The family has stayed at Assolna and Chinchinim. “Until last year, Tanisha was world number 18 in mixed doubles and we were damn sure that she would make it in mixed doubles and not women’s doubles. Last year, though, two or three of her partners quit—either stopped or changed their partners. Destiny then took a different turn and now she’s made it to Paris in women’s doubles,” said Clifford. Like her father explained, women’s doubles was not on Tanisha’s mind when she moved base and started training at the Gopichand academy in Hyderabad.Along with Ishan Bhatnagar, they were India’s best bet in mixed doubles, until Ishan broke his knee during the National championships. Tanisha then decided to give women’s doubles a serious try to realise her Olympics dream. The duo then combined so effectively that they defeated two-time world champions Mayu Matsumoto and Wakana Nagahara at the Malaysia Open Super 1000.Despite winning plenty of medals for Goa, her father said she has received nothing in return from state govt. “She has won so many laurels for Goa, but she has never been felicitated. She has received nothing. I heard many say she is not born in Goa, she’s not a Goan, but what is her fault that she was born in the UAE, where I was working? Initially we were treated like outsiders,” said Clifford.Clifford said he has been advised to move to other states which are supportive, like Maharashtra – where he has a house – or Haryana, known to invest heavily in sports and sportspersons. “I am very upset with Goa govt. Till date, govt has not given her a single rupee. She has won national championships, Asian championships but there is no monetary support.I am totally hurt with how she has been treated, despite her big achievements. “I have not made the switch (to other states). Many have said it’s not worth it in Goa, but my entire family is from Goa. They see the Crasto name on television, read about her, and they are all proud,” said Clifford.