Team Herald
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MORJIM: Sixty-plus world champion Mantu Murmur, Commonwealth medalist Rita Jain and 8-time masters national champion Mangal Saraf will feature in the She Paddle International Masters Women’s Table Tennis Tournament 2025 to be held from September 5 to 7, at the Aralia Beach Resort, Morjim.
The event will also welcome international participation with a representative from Bucharest, Romania, underlining the global reach of this pioneering initiative.
Organised for the first time in India, She Paddle 2025 is a dedicated international masters women’s prize money tournament that will bring together between 50 to 100 players from across India and abroad, with a prize purse of Rs 1.25 lakh and attractive trophies. The inaugural edition will feature events in the veterans 40+, 50+, and 60+ women’s categories in singles and doubles, along with a prestigious team championship, making it a comprehensive showcase of masters women’s table tennis.
Looking ahead, it was also announced that the 2026 edition of She Paddle will be hosted in Bucharest, Romania, further cementing its place as a truly international celebration of women in sport.
The grand finale of the tournament on September 7, will also witness the launch of “Smash Her Story”, a historic book honouring 32 Indian national women champions from 1947 to 2024. Written by Shamik Chakrabarty and Dileep Premachandran under the guidance of sports historian Boria Majumder, the book has been endorsed by Petra Sorling, president of the ITTF and IOC member.
More than a chronicle of achievements, Smash Her Story celebrates resilience, breaking barriers, and the creation of role models for future generations.
Addressing the mediapersons, former international table tennis player Moonmoon Mukherjee in the presence of veteran national champion Deepa Jain, former international table tennis player Shilpa Joshi Takalkar, founder secretary of Goa Veterans Table Tennis Association and State veteran champion Deepak Gopani, stated that the event will also feature distinguished guests including 8-time national champion, Arjuna Awardee Kamlesh Mehta, actor and wellness coach Pooja Bedi, Sports Authority of Goa Executive Director Dr Geeta Nagvenkar, Chairman of Bajaj Group Niraj Bajaj and senior officials of the Goa Table Tennis Association including President Sudin Verenkar, Vice-President Mayur Sawkar along with the dignitaries from the Government of Goa.
Speaking on the vision of She Paddle, Moonmoon described it as “not just a tournament, but a movement” – one that celebrates women who continue their sporting journeys with passion while building a legacy to inspire future generations.
The Organising Committee reiterated that the event represents a fusion of sport, culture and empowerment, positioning Goa as a global hub for master’s sports.