PANJIM: Goan Rebels outplayed Panaji Ganeshotsav Samiti to emerge champions to clinch the Summer Slam Table Tennis Team Championship organised by Panjim Table Tennis Club under the aegis of Goa Table Tennis Association at Indoor Stadium, Campal, here, recently.
In the thrilling final, the Goan Rebels led by captain Varun Gangodkar clinched the victory by a narrow margin of 85-84 against the Panaji Ganeshotsav Samiti captained by Gautam Wadkar, to lift the prestigious championship trophy.
The champions brought together eight formidable teams, each vying for the ultimate glory and showcased intense competition and strategic game-play as teams battled it out for supremacy.
The journey to the final was fraught with excitement and upsets. In the semi-finals, Group A winners, BPS Sports Club suffered a defeat at the hands of Group B runners-up Panaji Ganeshotsav Samiti with a scoreline of 85-79. Meanwhile, Group B winners, Sawkar Spartans were stunned by Group B runners-up Goan Rebels, in a closely contested match ending 85-83. Interestingly, in the Group stage, BPS Sports Club had registered a comfortable 85-75 win over Goan Rebels. Sawkar Spartans on the other hand had inflicted a 85-81 defeat over Panaji Ganeshotsav Samiti.
There were six Doubles Games played between two teams in each tie. The unique relay point scoring format of the event added an extra layer of excitement, as demonstrated by the unexpected outcomes in the semi-finals.
Despite topping their respective groups in the group stage, both BPS Sports Club and Sawkar Spartans faced reversals in the semi-finals, highlighting the unpredictability of the tournament.
The prize distribution ceremony was graced by Wesley do Rosario, national gold medal winner and India Captain at the University Games, alongside members of the Panjim Table Tennis Club, including Ajit Ghantker, Sandeep Heble, Selvyn Godinho and sports promoter Praveen Shenoy among others.
Winning squad: Goan Rebels – Chandan Caro, Ivana Botelho, Ira Nadkarni, Nikhil Jadhav, Pradnya Caro, Raaj L, Rickyth Kerkar, Swayam Chodankar, Varun Gangodkar (captain), Vedant Wagle and Wilber Mesquita,
Runners-up squad: Panaji Ganeshotsav Samiti: Anaya Srivastava, Bhavan Shrivastava, Eknath Mahadeshwar, Gautam Wadkar (captain), Khushal Naik, Neel Sanke, Prateek Kaisare, Ratnadeep Shivani, Shantesh Mapsekar, Trusha Hammanawar and Yuvaan Sanke,
Joint third place squads – Sawkar Spartans: Anand Naik, Dev Chopdekar, Paras Dalal, Pranav Naik (captain), Priyasha Nadodkar, Prutha Parrikar, Rishan Shaikh, Shaikh Yusuf, Shawn Soares, Vivaan Khalap and Zion Mesquita.
BPS Sports Club: Adhiraj Baadave, Atharv Borkar, Atharv Dhulapkar, Mithun Kanji, Nathan Gama, Neeza Kamat, Pushkar Virgincar, Ruhi Nachinolkar, Uday Valawalkar, Vivaan Chodankar and Wesley do Rosario (captain).
