Team Goemkarponn
PANAJI: Goa’s experienced table tennis player Deepak Gopani produced a memorable performance at the 32nd National Masters Table Tennis Championships in Pune, securing a historic bronze medal in the Men’s 55+ singles category. Leading a contingent of nearly 25 players from Goa, Gopani impressed throughout the tournament with his resilience, consistency and fighting spirit against some of the country’s top veteran paddlers.
Gopani began his campaign in commanding fashion by topping a highly competitive group that included Suchit Kumar Chaturvedi from IA&AD and Telangana’s Srinivas Matur Rao. He edged past both opponents in thrilling 3–2 encounters to advance to the knockout rounds.
Carrying his momentum forward, Gopani dominated Chandigarh’s Sanjay Laheja with a convincing 3–0 victory in the Round of 32. He then faced a stern challenge from Gujarat’s Shagun Sutaria in the Round of 16, where he once again displayed nerves of steel to pull off a hard fought 3–2 win and move into the quarterfinals.
The quarterfinal clash proved to be one of the defining moments of his campaign. After conceding the opening game against Maharashtra’s Atmaram Gangarde, Gopani staged a strong comeback and produced an outstanding display to win the match 3–1, guaranteeing himself a podium finish and a place in the semi-finals.
Apart from his singles success, Gopani also made a significant contribution in the team event. His crucial 3–1 victory over Delhi’s Anil Jajoo helped Goa gain early momentum and added confidence to the contingent’s overall performance during the championships.
In the semi-final, Gopani fought valiantly against Maharashtra’s Ravindra Joshi but eventually went down 1–3 after a spirited contest. Despite the defeat, his bronze medal achievement marked a major milestone for Goa’s table tennis community and highlighted the growing strength of veteran paddlers from the state.
