Elsa Angel Rose
A RISING KARATE CHAMPION WITH GOLDEN AMBITIONS
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A state gold medalist for four consecutive years (2022, 2023, 2024, 2025), Risa Olivera has karate in her mind and dreams. The grade 6 student from Raia has been training rigorously to become the best in the martial arts. Seraz Sheikh is her trainer and mentor who has helped her win gold medals at the state level. Risa reflected, “I train very hard under the guidance of Sensei Seraz Sheikh, who has always supported me to be on the top level.” In an era where children are easily distracted and tend to have an aversion towards discipline, Risa trains every day with determination and sheer will. Risa is also a gold medalist for the Karate School Games 2025/26. She is also an Under-14 silver and bronze medalist in the Indo-Sri Lankan tournament 2024. The 10-year-old said, “To manage my time for training, I skip watching TV and using my mobile.” Risa’s dream is to become an international Karate champion and bring glory to Goa and India.
YOUNG SCIENCE ACHIEVER AT VVM
“Science, to me, is not a subject; it is a deep understanding of the components that make up our planet and the forces that guide all of Earth’s processes,” said 14-year-old Reya Paresh Desai from Margao. She secured 1st position for state level VVM (Vidyarthi Vigyan Manthan- India’s largest science talent search exam for students) camp in the 9th standard category held in January 2026 and is about to represent Goa at the national camp to be held in May this year. Passionate about achieving huge milestones, Reya shared, “Last year I missed the first rank, so I was determined to excel this time.” The King’s School student added a message for National Girl Child Day, “Girls are excelling in every field. I would just say, ‘Girls, keep it up!’”
GRACE AND DEVOTION IN BHARATANATYAM
Shrusti Dessai is a seasoned young performer from Dharbandora, training in the art form of Bharatanatyam. What began as a tiny passion during earlier years is being nurtured by her to take it to much higher levels. “I’m very grateful that I have the most supportive parents, especially my mother, who taught me so many things. The knowledge I gained from dance, as well as from culture and tradition, is only because of my guru, Shubhada Ma’am. She explains everything very well,” Shrusti shared. In the last year, Srushti won 2nd place in solo dance at a state-level competition, and recently this month, she secured first place at Kakoda Savordem (solo dance competition). “For me, the art form feels very special because when I perform on stage, it feels like I am performing for God. It feels like I am worshipping God, and the devotion comes from deep within my heart.”
A YOUNG BOXER WITH VIBRANT DREAMS
12-year-old Rakshita Lamani is a Gold Medalist and Best Boxer Trophy winner at the Goa State Boxing Championship 2026 held at St. Anthony’s High school monte de Guirim from 13 to 17 January. This stellar boxer’s day begins early at 6 am with boxing practice and ends with the same. Her love for boxing, the support of her family and the guidance of her coach, Chitambaram Naik, give the young girl the motivation to keep going. Rakshita said, “I’m currently practising for nationals, which is about to happen in March. In future, I would love to continue pursuing boxing. I would want to be a champion in Goa and represent my state at higher levels in future.
