Team Goemkarponn
PANAJI: Goa’s pickleball contingent ended the 9th All India Pickleball Association Nationals in Jammu on a high note, claiming multiple medals and the prestigious Veterans Team title. Leading the charge were double gold winners Noel Noronha and Audrey Menezes. Noel captured gold in the 50+ Men’s Singles and teamed with Wilfred Jaques to clinch the 50+ Men’s Doubles crown. Audrey mirrored the feat in the 50+ Women’s Singles and paired with Clarence Noronha to win the 50+ Mixed Doubles title.
Adding to Goa’s medal haul, James Anderson and Parag Joshi won gold in the 60+ Men’s Doubles. Other notable achievements included James Anderson securing silver in the 60+ Men’s Singles, Nihaal and Ruta Borkar claiming silver in the 35+ Mixed Doubles, and rising star Tvisha Sardesai winning bronze in the U16 Girls Singles. With a total of five golds and two silvers, Goa emerged as the Veterans Team Winners, underscoring the state’s growing strength in Indian pickleball.
Goa players also came close in several medal rounds. Aarin Ballani (U14 Boys), Taksh Parekh (U16 Boys), and Rajaram Kundaikar (35+ Men’s Singles) narrowly missed podium finishes in their respective bronze playoffs. Aarin and Taksh fell in the Boys U16 Doubles quarterfinals, while Ajay Sardesai and Vinod Parkkot exited in the 50+ Doubles quarterfinals. Nihaal Borkar was eliminated in the pre-quarterfinals of the 35+ Men’s Singles against a top-seeded Maharashtra opponent, rounding off a strong but challenging campaign.
Commenting on the success, Mayur Sawkar, President of the Goa Pickleball Association, said, “The Nationals highlight the talent and potential of pickleball in Goa. With new courts coming up at Clube Tennis de Gaspar Dias, Panjim Gymkhana, BPS Sports Club, and other private venues, the sport is growing rapidly, and Goa can truly emerge as a Pickleball destination.” Secretary Mangirish Kunde added, “Our practice sessions before the Nationals have clearly paid off. Strong communities in Panjim, Margao, Vasco, and other towns are driving the sport’s growth.”
