PANJIM: Saniya Pednekar from Querim, is a talented and exceptional sportsgirl. Starting with football, she later on went on to explore other sports as well and surprisingly excelled in rugby, volleyball, handball, athletics.
No wonder, this Pernem-born girl was adjudged the sportswoman of the year at St Xavier’s HSS in Mapusa in 2022-23.
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Athletics, is Saniya’s forte, having won two gold in 100m and 200 m at 44th State athletic meet 2022-23 at Pedem, Mapusa.
Football has been her passion, right from her childhood days in 2014 when she was 10 having got her baptism in the sport at Shiksha Niketan School in Porvorim. She says it is part of her life now. Her motivation was her principal Nisha da Cunha and it was through her school that she earned her victory in swimming, crossing the river Mandovi.
Saniya donned colours for Goa women’s football team in 2022 and represented the State at the 36th National Games in Gujarat. She also played in Khelo India girls football league for U-17 representing GFDC North Pre-Academy, Siolim and donned colours at the State Vedanta League twice.
Switching over to rugby, Saniya excelled there too, representing Goa at the National Rugby Championship in Hyderabad and securing the runners-up place. She got a chance through her school – Green Meadows School, Nagoa.
It was at St Xavier’s HSS that Saniya earned more laurels, being part of the school team which won the State level volleyball tournament, runner-up at State level football, runner-up at State handball and gold in 100m and 200m. She attributes her success to her physical education teachers Neil D’Sousa and Vera Pires as well as her parents. “It is due to their constant motivation and guidance that I could scale these heights,” she stressed adding that she wants to get a gist and experience of every sport to enhance her skills and abilities.
