Team Goemkarponn
Panaji: Three athletes from the Goa University women’s weightlifting team have qualified for the All India Inter University Weightlifting Women Championship 2026-27 after delivering impressive performances at the AIU West Zone Inter University Championship in Gujarat.
The championship was held at Sankalchand Patel University in Visnagar, Mehsana, on October 27 and 28, with Goa University’s athletes competing against participants from universities across the West Zone.
Iram Irshad Khatri led Goa’s campaign with a fifth place finish in the 86 kg plus category, recording a total lift of 140 kg. Sakshi Haldankar secured sixth position in the 77 kg category with a total lift of 172 kg, while Sakshi Gawandi finished eighth in the 86 kg category after lifting a combined 102 kg.
Their top eight finishes earned all three athletes qualification for the national level championship, scheduled to be held at KISS University in Odisha from December 4 to 7, 2026.
The qualification marks an important achievement for the Goa University women’s weightlifting team, with the three athletes now preparing to compete against the country’s leading university level weightlifters.
The Goa University squad at the West Zone championship also included Pushpa Vishwakarma, Anushka Andrade, Saniya Phadte and Simran Sawant, alongside the three qualifiers.
Tanuj Kinalkar served as the coach and team manager, while Ayesha Alvares accompanied the squad as team manager.
The team’s performance highlights Goa University’s continued participation in inter university sports competitions and provides the qualified athletes an opportunity to showcase their strength and technique at the national level.
With the All India Inter University Championship scheduled for December, Khatri, Haldankar and Gawandi will look to build on their West Zone performances and make a strong impression in Odisha.
