Team Goemkarponn
PANAJI: Lacrosse, a sport newly introduced in the upcoming Olympics, has gained traction in Goa with the formation of the Goa Lacrosse Association, headed by President Tejendra (Nikhil) Lawande. The association, driven by a committed goal includes Secretary Sandeep Heble, Treasurer Vrushali Cardozo, Vice Presidents Jayesh Naik, Naved Tahsildar, Gautam Kharangate, and Madhavi Desai; Joint Secretary Mangesh Pawar; Joint Treasurer Bhargav Desai; and members Abhay Bhamaikar, Dattaram Bicholkar, Shamsudeen C.K, and Sudesh Gaonker. Manoj Patil serves as the Advisor while Chetan Kavlekar serves as Technical Advisor.
The team has begun the journey of establishing lacrosse in Goa with great promise. The association recently deputed its boys’ and girls’ teams to participate in the 2nd Junior National Lacrosse Championships 2024, held from September 27 to 29 in Agra. The Goa teams delivered commendable performances, demonstrating the talents of Goan athletes.
In a remarkable display, the Goa Girls team emerged as runners-up, narrowly losing to Rajasthan 3-4 in the finals after a strong tournament. They topped their group stage and went on to defeat Arunachal Pradesh 3-1 in the quarterfinals and Haryana 1-0 in the semifinals. The Boys team also excelled, topping the group stage with victories against Tamil Nadu (2-0) and Maharashtra (1-0). They bowed out in the quarterfinals after a hard-fought match, losing 2-0 to Rajasthan. Elena Pereira was a standout player throughout the tournament, scoring the crucial goal in the semifinals and notching a hat-trick in the finals.
The Boys’ team included Abubakar Makandar, Akash Kandakur, Akhil Manikyala, Aryan Phatarpekar, Mahesh Kandkura, Nihant Darokar, Ravikiran Naik, Roylan Colaco (Captain), and Yash Gokarnkar. The Girls’ team was composed of Arshiya Banu, Ashita Siji, Ayesha Killedar, Elena Pereira, Falak Shaikh, Nandini Gupta, Priyanka Karkal, Riddhi Sawant, Shreya Shinde, Tanvi Pal, and Captain Tracy Hilario.
The team was coached by Mangesh Pawar, a professional athlete who has represented Goa in basketball and netball. Reflecting on the experience, Pawar said, “Coaching lacrosse was a unique challenge, as the sport is completely new in Goa. But the players were excited, eager to learn, and gave their best on the field. Their performance in Agra shows the immense potential Goa has in this emerging sport.”
President Tejendra (Nikhil) Lawande expressed his optimism about lacrosse’s future in Goa: “Lacrosse is now an Olympic sport, with its inclusion in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics being a game-changer. We aim to establish a professional league and a strong club structure in Goa within the next year, working closely with corporates to develop the game at the grassroots level. The success at the Junior Nationals is just the beginning, and we see lacrosse becoming a significant sport in Goa in the near future.”
Secretary Sandeep Heble emphasized the association’s commitment to collaboration: “We plan to work closely with other sports bodies such as Hockey, Rugby, Handball, Athletics, football and other games to identify and groom athletes with the talent and potential for lacrosse. We are also opening membership at the District, Taluka, and State levels to involve all clubs, schools and other stakeholders and ensure the holistic growth of the game across Goa.”
With the Goa Lacrosse Association’s clear vision and strategic initiatives, lacrosse is set to take firm root in Goa, with hopes of making a significant mark on the national and international stages in the coming years.
