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PANJIM: It was a frustrating day for Goa in beach volleyball when Goa I lost to Tamil Nadu 21-17, 21-9 in the semi-finals of the 38th National Games.
They will now play for the bronze medal on Thursday against Telangana. In a match where the wind played a big role, the team comprising Nitin Sawant and Rama Dhawasker played very well.
Coach Pralhad Dhawaskar said it was not their day.
He said, “The wind was very strong, it affected both the teams but Goa suffered.”
Rama said, “We tried our best but it was not enough today. Tomorrow we are playing for the bronze medal. We want to win something for Goa. Today was just not our day.”
Earlier in the day, Goa II lost to Andhra Pradesh 2-1. Tejas Gauns said, “We made mistakes and the fact that the referee made mistakes during the match made it worse. We played well but that is how it is during the competitions. Telangana is very good team, they won the gold medal in Gujarat and were runners-up in Kerala.”
Rama said, “The Goan team was also very good and expected a tough match for the bronze medal. Goa last won a medal in beach volleyball in Gujarat. The competition was not held in the National Games held in Goa.”
Goa disappoint
in weightlifting
The Goan campaign in the weightlifting championship was a disappointing one.
Himali Kamble in the 64 weight category stood fourth losing the bronze medal by 3kg. She was competing in the snatch, clean and jerk.
Coach Nandu GM said that her performance was commendable and she had improved over her last performance and it showed that she had the potential to go far.
He said,” I will not be surprised if she wins a medal in one of the tournaments in the future. Last time her total was 185kg but this year she raised 193kg which is very good.”
The second weightlifter Akshay Gaikwad competing in the 73kg came seventh in a field of 7.
Pentathlon
The Goa team consisting two coaches and 10 players left by flight late last night for Delhi. From there, they will go to Uttarakhand by train. Coach Kirtain Vaiz said, “The team is very strong and one could expect good performances from the team. The team is likely to win four gold and two silver. Babu Gaonkar, who won the gold medal in the last Games, is part of the team.
Mallakhamb
The team of 10, 5 men and 5 women are ready to take on the competition which commences on Febuary 11. Coach Avita Bandodkar said, “I expect medals from the girls. They are good but the sport is also very unpredictable. Anything can happen on that day. If they slip on the rope, they can lose points. That’s what happened in Gujarat. We should have won the gold but the athlete slipped and fell.”
Meanwhile, it is revealed by the Chef de Mission Irwin cardo that even though Goa won a gold medal in Kalaripayattu, it would not be considered in the list of medals won because it was just an exhibition sport.
