Team Herald
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MARGAO: Azriel Travasso, Samiksha Parit, Benvil Albert and Mayuka Manoj produced outstanding performances to emerge top winners at the Quepem taluka under-14 and under-17 boys and girls swimming competition, organised by the Directorate of Sports and Youth Affairs (DSYA) at the SAG Swimming Pool, PJN Stadium, Fatorda.
Travasso of Guardian Angel High School, Curchorem, swept the under-14 boys category, clinching first place in the 50m freestyle, 50m backstroke and 50m butterfly. In the under-14 girls section, Samiksha Parit of Holy Cross Institute, Quepem, won double gold, topping both the 50m freestyle and 50m backstroke.
In the under-17 boys category, Holy Cross Institute’s swimmers dominated. Rihan Sayyad won the 50m freestyle, while teammate Anas Khan took second and also bagged gold in the 50m and 100m backstroke. Benvil Albert claimed victories in the 100m and 200m freestyle, ahead of Niraj Pawaskar and Prem Redekar, both of Holy Cross Institute.
The butterfly events were keenly contested, with Holy Cross Institute’s Dhrubajyoti Brahma winning the 50m butterfly. Pope John XXIII High School’s Macqui Ruben Mascarenhas impressed with triple victories in the 100m and 200m butterfly as well as the 400m individual medley. Niraj Pawaskar of Holy Cross also struck gold in the 50m breaststroke.
In the under-17 girls competition, Guardian Angel High School’s Mayuka Manoj was the standout swimmer, clinching first place in the 50m freestyle, 100m backstroke and 50m backstroke. Teammate Saujanya Jogi finished runner-up in the 50m freestyle.