Goemkarponn Desk
PANAJI: Host Goa recorded their most successful day of the 37th National Games
on Thursday with their Sepak Takraw contingent winning six gold and one silver and a bronze while
swimmers Shrungi Bandekar and Sanjana Prabhugaonkar adding a silver and bronze respectively to
their tally.
The gold rush on Friday meant that the 37th National Games would be the best ever performance
for the Goa contingent as they have now bagged a total of 44 medals, including eight gold, 10 silver
and 26 bronze.
Goa’s earlier best performance in the National Games was back in 2011 at Ranchi when then won a
total of 16 medals including 5 gold.
The success will help Goa jump to 10th place in the standings. Maharashtra continues to top the
standings with 60 gold, 53 silver and 52 bronze medals with Services (43 gold, 14 silver, 17 bronze)
and Haryana (32 gold, 24 silver, 33 bronze) in second and third position respectively.
The Goan Men’s Sepak Takraw team had entered the 37th National Games as overwhelming
favourites, with 9 players in their ranks from the 2018 Asian Games Bronze Medal winning
contingent. The home side thoroughly lived up to their billing winning six out of the eight possible
gold medals on offer at the Multi-Purpose Indoor Hall in Fatorda, Margao.
The day began with Goa bagging its first Gold in the Men’s Doubles event, defeating Kerala 2-0 in
the final.
In the Men’s Quadrant event, Goa saw off a strong challenge from Delhi to win 2-1 in the final while
the hosts got the better of Manipur in Men’s Team category 2-1 thanks to an exemplary display
from striker Akash Yumnam. The home contingent then completed a clean sweep in men’s events as
they defeated Manipur again in Regu final.
Akash Yumnam, who featured in all finals said, “I feel very happy today. This is my first National
Games, and we have won all four Gold medals. I am thrilled because we were so dominant in all
four events. This is possible because of my teammates; we all practice together and are all friends
on and off the court.”
In the women’s events, Goa capped off another strong performance, bagging two gold medals,
defeating Andhra Pradesh 2-1 in Doubles Final and thrashing Haryana 2-0 in the Quadrant summit
clash.
