Team Herald
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PANJIM: Chetan Salgaonkar and Lloyd Fernandes emerged champions in the Para Standing and Wheelchair categories respectively at the 9th Young Men's Christian Association (YMCA) Para Table Tennis Ranking Championship held at the Indoor Stadium, Campal, here, recently.
In the Para Standing category runner-up was Gopal Naik, while in the wheelchair category, Vishant Nagvekar was the runner-up.
In addition to the medal winners, strong performances were also seen from other talented participants, including Rayansh Sawant, Ritesh Vaigankar, Jonathan, Mukesh Jatekar, and Siddesh Cuncolikar in the Standing category, and Stany Dsouza, Patrick Dsouza, Dharmesh Kuri, Durgadas Naik, Santosh Aigal, Gauresh Marathe, Yalguresh Gaudar, Sadaf Fatima, and Prasad Soni in the wheelchair category.
Despite the monsoon season, the spirit of competition was undeterred as para athletes from across Goa gathered for an exhilarating event organised by YMCA in association with Goa Table Tennis Association, which saw 18 enthusiastic athletes, showcasing their skills in both wheelchair and standing table tennis categories.
This tournament marks the second consecutive year that YMCA has taken a significant step in promoting inclusivity by integrating the para championship alongside the general category.
Alvito D’Silva, whose efforts have been pivotal in encouraging participation, was commended for his support of para athletes and for helping elevate the State-level ranking championship. D’Silva said the Para athletes are his first priority and he shall always make all YMCA tournaments inclusive.
In an inspiring message, Vishant Nagvekar, a wheelchair category player, runner-up and co-ordinator for the para category, emphasised on the need for more inclusion in sports events.
He urged all sports organisers to include a para category to help promote and foster para sports in the State.
“Para athletes have long faced challenges due to lack of awareness and attitudinal and infrastructure barriers, which have hindered talented para players from achieving success on both national and international platforms,” he noted.
Further, Nagvekar expressed his gratitude towards the YMCA for their initiatives in including the para category, to the Disability Alliance for Inclusive Goa for providing wheelchair support, and to the Sports Authority of Goa and their staff for extending their full support and providing the indoor stadium for the championship, while emphasising the importance of such inclusion in every tournament they organise in the future.
The YMCA’s ongoing efforts to promote para sports highlight the importance of inclusive sports programmes. Such initiatives are essential to unlocking the full potential of athletes with disabilities in Goa, offering them an opportunity to shine on both state and national stages.