Team Goemkarponn
PANAJI: The State Judo Championships 2025–26, organised by the Goa Judo Association, concluded successfully after a competitive tournament featuring junior and senior athletes in both men’s and women’s categories. Participants from several clubs and training centres across the state competed in the event, reflecting the growing popularity and improving standard of the sport in Goa.
In the Junior Men division, Pawn Patel of RCC Ponda secured gold in the below 55 kg category, while Sido Murmu from RCC Panaji finished first in the below 60 kg event. Rishu Yadav of SAI STC Ponda claimed the top spot in the below 66 kg category and Pruthviraj Herekar of Shri Bhumika Judo Sangh won gold in the below 81 kg division. Samarth Churmuri from RCC Ponda emerged victorious in the above 100 kg category. Shri Bhumika Judo Sangh claimed the overall championship title in Junior Men, with RCC Ponda finishing as runners up.
In the Junior Women section, Sherin Varghese of Shri Bhumika Judo Sangh won gold in the below 44 kg category. Trisha Kawat from SAI STC Peddem secured first place in the below 48 kg division and Vidhya Jamadar of RCC Panaji topped the below 52 kg category. Aryan Kadam of Warrior Academy won the below 57 kg event while Suhana Parwar from Jaya Dojo finished first in the below 63 kg category. Maybiti Murmu of RCC Panaji and Kashish Kharude from Shri Bhumika Judo Sangh secured gold in the above 70 kg and above 78 kg categories respectively. Shri Bhumika Judo Sangh emerged as overall champions in Junior Women, with RCC Panaji finishing runners up.
In the Senior Men competition, Jagdish Yadahalli of RCC Panaji won gold in the below 55 kg category while Nippu Yadav of SAI STC Ponda topped the below 60 kg event. Rishu Yadav from the same centre secured first place in the below 66 kg category. Mohit Kumar won the below 73 kg division and Harshit Sadhya claimed gold in the below 90 kg category. Rishav Singh of RCC Ponda emerged victorious in the above 100 kg event. SAI STC Ponda were declared overall champions in Senior Men while RCC Ponda finished runners up.
In the Senior Women division, Tanishka Shivolkar and Chandani Jha of RCC Mapusa secured gold in the below 48 kg and below 52 kg categories respectively. Rashmi Jadhav and Vedika Varandekar of Shri Bhumika Judo Sangh won the below 57 kg and below 63 kg events. Isha Fernandes, Priti Kalmankar and Iram Khatri of RCC Panaji secured gold in the below 70 kg, below 78 kg and above 78 kg categories. RCC Panaji emerged as overall champions in Senior Women, with Shri Bhumika Judo Sangh finishing runners up.
Speaking on the occasion, General Secretary Kripesh Vengurlekar said the championship reflected the rising standard of judo in the state, praising the athletes for their discipline, technique and sportsmanship throughout the competition. He added that the event would help prepare Goan judokas for higher level tournaments in the future.
