PANJIM: Goa bagged two individual and as many team championship medals at the Trampoline & Tumbling Gymnastic National Championship organised by Gymnastic Federation of India in Dombivali-Maharashtra. The success of the contingent has buoyed the Goa Gymnastic Association and they are roaring to go for the forthcoming Nationals.
Bronze-medalist in 36th National Games in Gujarat, Abhijit Nimbalkar once again won a bronze medal in the Trampoline event and has boosted his reputation as one of the prime contenders for a medal when Goa hosts the National Games later this year. Abhijit was also a part of the Indian team at the World Championship held in Sofia, Bulgaria in November 2022. And in the sub-junior age-group, Pratyush Upadhyay clinched the bronze.
In the senior age-group Trampoline team event, the Goa team comprising Abhijit Nimbalkar, Subodeep Nandi, Sudipta Sardar and Mainak Dutta, clinched a bronze medal with a score of 202.40.
Goa earned another bronze in Tumbling Gymnastic team event, with a score of 85.20. The Goan team consisted of Souhit Sinha, Sudip Bhuimali and Anish Gayen.
The President of Goa Gymnastic Association, Sudesh Thakur was pleased with the medal-winning display. “This competition was very important for us for the qualification of our team for National Games,” he said.
The just-concluded Nationals in Maharashtra was restricted to Trampoline & Tumbling; while Goa also has gymnasts in Artistic and Rhythmic categories, who will be part of the action at the 37th National Games.
“Our focus now will be on training and ensuring we have the infrastructure for best preparations that we are planning with a 90-days camp. Of course, we will have to hire the apparatus and coaches so that our contingent of around 18, get the optimum workout, ” explained Thakur.
The Association has worked out their plans for training in Pune and Maharashtra, the total cost being around Rs 21 lakh. They also plan to have a 4-month camp with a specialist coach, chief coach and other coaches which will entail an expenditure of Rs 33 lakh on their salaries alone.
