BAMBOLIM: Aman Chauhan and Ridhima Naik emerged cadets boys and girls singles winners while Aaron Colaco and Kiara Soares walked away with Youth boys and girls singles titles, at the 8th GCCI Cup table tennis talent search tournament (Non Ranking) organised by Panjim Table Tennis Club in collaboration with Goa Chamber of Commerce and Industry under the aegis of Goa Table Tennis Association, at Table Tennis Hall, Athletics stadium, Bambolim, on Friday.
Aman Chauhan defeated Sidhant Parsekar 3 – 0 (11-7, 11-9, 11-8) to emerge victorious in Cadets Boys category. In cadets girls section, Ridhima Naik too had it easy against Pavni Desai, winning 3-0 (11-8, 12-10, 11-8). Aaron Colaco put it across Nathan Barua, in Youth Boys singles, winning 3-1 (12-10, 11-9, 7-11, 11-8) while Kiara Soares was stretched by Saimira Kamat before prevailing to a 3 -1 (11-6, 8-11, 11-7, 11-9) win over her young opponent in the Youth girls singles category.
The semi-finals prizes were awarded to the following players: Saksham Dukle and Darren Duarte (cadets boys); Arya Palang and Josian Rodrigues (cadets Girls); Advait Mudras and Zubin Bocarro (youth boys) and Ridhima Naik and Arya Palang (youth girls). Promising player prize was bagged by Darren Duarte. Sachin Soares, Table Tennis promoter, along with Panjim TT Club officials Sandeep Heble (Vice President), Selvyn Godinho (Secretary) and Gaurang Bhangui (Chief Referee) graced the prize distribution ceremony.
Meanwhile on Saturday, Noel Noronha won a double crown while Selvyn Godinho, Suresh Karpurkar, Kewal Tamhankar, and Aaron Colaco were the other winners in doubles category events.
Former State champion Noel Noronha teamed up with Selvyn Godinho and Suresh Karapurkar to win the Doubles 65+ (combined age) and 85+ (combined age) doubles titles respectively. In 65+ doubles, Noel Noronha / Selvyn Godinho put it across Suresh Karapurkar / Prutha Parrikar who put up a spirited fight. They won 3 -1 (10-12, 11-5, 12-10, 11-9). In 85+ doubles, Noel Noronha along with Suresh Karapurkar came back from 2 sets to 1 down to upset tournament favourites Amit Naik and Arun Naik 3 -2 (7-11, 11-8, 9-11, 11-7, 11-9).
The (30 to 35 combined age group) Doubles title was won by Kewal Tamhankar and Aaron Colaco who defeated Rutuj Sonawane / Nathan Barua 3 -1 (15-13, 11-9, 9-11, 11-9). Third place prizes were won by following: Selvyn Godinho / Kushal Naik & Gaurav Chari / Prutha Parrikar (30 to 35+ ); . Deepak Gopani / Sagar Kulkarni & Rutuj Sonawane /Ratnadeep Shivani (65+); and Chaitanya Tarcar / Deepak Gopani & Sachin Soares / Yusuf Shaikh (85+). Special Prizes were awarded to Sanjeev Afzalpurkar and Joseph Duarte.
Sanjeev Dalvi, Director of Health Services, Chaitanya Tarcar (President, Goa Veterans TT Association), along with Panjim TT Club officials Sandeep Heble (Vice President) and Gaurang Bhangui (Chief Referee) graced the closing function.
