Team Goemkarponn
PANJAI: Pickleball is rapidly gaining momentum in Goa, with a strong 28-member state contingent participating in the 9th All India Pickleball Association Nationals being held in Jammu. The national event is organised by the J&K Amateur Pickleball Association under the aegis of the All India Pickleball Association and will see Goa’s top talent compete against the country’s best.
The Goan players earned their spots through the State Championships held earlier this year by BPS Sports Club, Margao, followed by selection trials. The squad features Aarin Balani, Abhishek Singh Goindi, Abilash Haridass, Aryaveer Agrawal, Arsh Sardesai, Ashok Menon, Audrey Menezes, Charmaine Godinho, Clarence Noronha, James Anderson, Joshua Menezes, Keshav Kundaikar, Malvino Kane, Manish Ballani, Nihaal Borkar, Nishad Shevde, Noel Noronha, Parag Joshi, Rahul Rajesh, Rajaram Kundaikar, Rajendra Godinho, Ruta Borkar, Saurish Naik, Simone Lalwani, Taksh Parekh, Tvisha Sardesai, Vinod Parkkot, and Wilfred Jacques.
Among the players to watch are Aarin Balani, Arsh Sardesai, and Taksh Parekh in Sub Junior Boys; Tvisha Sardesai in Sub Junior Girls; Audrey Menezes and Charmaine Godinho in Women’s; Nishad Shevde and Nihaal Borkar in Men’s; and veterans Noel Noronha, Manish Ballani, Rajaram Kundaikar, Rajendra Godinho, and Wilfred Jacques in the Veterans categories. The Nationals, which began on September 26, will conclude on September 28, featuring more than 500 players from across India competing for top honours.
Speaking on the occasion, Mangirish Kunde, Secretary of the Goa Pickleball Association, said, “We are delighted to see Goa sending one of its strongest contingents yet to the Nationals. The players have trained hard, and we are confident they will perform admirably and make the state proud. We are grateful to our President Mayur Sawkar, Advisors Manoj Patil and Sandeep Heble, and to Yogiraj Kamant and the BPS Sports Club team for their support. A special thanks to Tanmay Kholkar of Manas Developers for generously sponsoring travel kits and jerseys.”
