Goemkarponn desk
PANAJI: The Goa Badminton Association (GBA) has announced the names of the Goa Men’s and Women’s Teams that will participate in the 37th National Games taking place in Goa. The Badminton event is scheduled from October 19 to 24, 2023, at the newly refurbished Dr SPM Stadium in Goa.
The Badminton events at the National Games will commence with the Men’s and Women’s team championships from October 19 to 21, with the finals set to take place on October 21 at 9 a.m. Following that, from October 22 to 24, Individual events, including singles, doubles, and mixed doubles, will be held, with the individual event finals scheduled for the morning session on October 24.
Goa Chief Minister Dr. Pramod Sawant and Sports Minister of Goa, Govind Gaude, will be among the distinguished guests gracing the opening day matches, showcasing their support for the Nation’s premier sporting extravaganza in Goa.
The Goa Men’s and Women’s Badminton Teams are poised to make a strong impression in this prestigious event. Leading the charge for the Goa Men’s Team are accomplished players, Ayaan Shaikh, Rahul Deswal, Karan Dhavaskar, Nishant Shenai, Tejan Fallary, Arjun Fallary, Sunny Sawant, Frederick Fernandes, Arunesh Hari, and Rehan M, under the guidance of their Coach, Navneet Nasnodkar, and Manager, Praveen Shenoy.
The Women’s Team is equally formidable, featuring players of great talent and promise, including Anjana Kumari, Lydia Barreto, Yasmin Sayed, Pranjal Chimulkar, Anura Prabhu Desai, Riya Mookerjee, Sakshi Kurbhelgi, Anagha Karandikar, Anamika Singh, and Anees Kaowsar. Senior India Coach Utsav Mishra serves as the team’s Coach, while Sandhya Melasheemi manages the squad.
Anura Prabhu Desai, a former top-ranked Indian player, currently ranked 16th in India, will spearhead Goa’s challenge in both singles and doubles events. Also, players to watch out for include Lydia Barreto and Arjun Fallary, who have previously represented India at the Asian Sub Juniors championship. Pranjal Chimulkar and Anjana Kumari, who were part of the bronze medal-winning team at the Kerala Games, are integral members of the current squad.
Sandeep Heble, Secretary of the Goa Badminton Association, expressed his excitement, saying, “The National Games are finally here and we all are super excited about it. India is doing extremely well in badminton and we are delighted that the Games in Goa will start off with badminton. Goa has always been wonderful hosts and we are confident that a vibrant celebration of sportsmanship will unfold here yet again, as we welcome the nations best athletes to our shores. The SPM stadium is looking beautiful and our players are enthusiastic about competing in this stadium for the first time, against the top players from India. We are looking forward to giving our best and will strive to win medals.”
