Team Goemkarponn
Panaji: Goa will look to make a strong impact at the Inter State West Zone Badminton Championships, scheduled to be held in Bilaspur, Chhattisgarh, from September 3 to 6, 2026.
The state has named a competitive squad featuring several nationally ranked players, along with promising young talents who will be eager to make their mark at the major zonal event. Goa’s challenge will be led by Aarush Pawaskar, Arjun Bhagat, Shaheen C K, Aswin Mannambalath, Sufiya Shaikh and Shivanjali Thite.
Rising players such as Dimple Revankar and Niharika Parwar will also be part of the squad as Goa takes on strong badminton states including Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat and hosts Chhattisgarh.
The team has undergone focused preparations under coaches Vinayak Kamat and Navneet Nasnodkar. The players will be aiming to build on Goa’s encouraging performances in recent years and secure a strong finish in Bilaspur.
Goa Badminton Association Secretary Praveen Shenoy said the state’s badminton programme has made significant progress and that Goa is increasingly capable of challenging the traditional powerhouses in the West Zone.
Goa’s Junior Boys team had secured a bronze medal last year after defeating Madhya Pradesh, while two Goa players also won individual medals. The latest squad will now look to carry that momentum into this year’s championship.
The Goa squad comprises Aarush Pawaskar, Advait Balakrishnan, Anjana Kumari, Arjun Bhagat, Aryaman Saraf, Aswin Mannambalath, Devansh Sakpal, Dimple Revankar, Niharika Parwar, Nishant Shenai, Owais Tahasildar, Riya Haldankar, Rudra Phadte, Sanath Kamat, Shaheen C K, Shivanjali Thite, Soham Naik, Sufiya Shaikh and Vansh Khedkar.
Vinayak Kamat and Navneet Nasnodkar will serve as coaches, with Praveen Shenoy and Lukmita Pawaskar as managers. Shreyas Morudkar will officiate as the umpire.
