Sudin Verenkar was unanimously elected as the President of the Goa Table Tennis Association (GTTA) at its Annual General Meeting held on January 18, 2024, at Bambolim Beach Resort. The AGM witnessed the unanimous election of a new committee for the term 2024-28. Notable figures from the table tennis community, including the 8-time National champion and Secretary General of the Table Tennis Federation of India (TTFI), Kamlesh Mehta, graced the gathering.
The newly elected committee, elected unanimously, includes Sudin Verenkar as President, Christopher Menezes as General Secretary, and Aishwarya Nunes as Treasurer. The Vice Presidents are Noel Noronha, Mayur Sawkar, Vikram Verlekar, and Edwin Menezes, while Nilesh Kirtani assumes the role of Joint Secretary. The committee also comprises members Kabir Pinto Makhija, Damodar Bhatkar, Alvito D’Silva, and Santosh Verenkar, with co-opted Members Narayan alias Ajit Ghantker and Vishnu Kolwalkar.
Kamlesh Mehta, serving as the TTFI Observer, and Jayesh Naik, acting as the GOA Observer, attended the AGM. Adv Mahendra Raikar served as the Returning Officer for the elections. In recognition of his longstanding service, Vero Nunes has been nominated as President Emeritus and Advisor.
The outgoing President, Vero Nunes, commended the association’s achievements during his term, highlighting the successful organization of international and national tournaments and camps with foreign coaches and other top India coaches such as Kamlesh Mehta. “Though Goa is a small state, we have achieved extraordinary heights where our players have won not only zonal and national medals but also international medals,” he added. He extended his best wishes to the newly elected President Sudin Verenkar and the entire committee, expressing a commitment to continued support.
President Sudin Verenkar outlined his strategic plan for the future, emphasizing the establishment of a state-of-the-art Table Tennis Centre of Excellence at Campal within three years. His agenda includes promoting table tennis in rural areas such as Canacona, Valpoi and other places, organizing coaching camps in schools, conducting Taluka-wise tournaments, and introducing a Professional Junior League along the lines of the UTT India league, providing exposure to the best from Goa to play alongside good-quality outstation players.
Additionally, he aims to support deserving players through financial schemes. “The Honorable Sports Minister has been very supportive of our activities. The National Games were successfully held under his leadership, and we are confident of getting all the support necessary to elevate table tennis to great heights in Goa”, added Sudin.
In his address, Kamlesh Mehta lauded Goa’s growth as both a tourist destination and a sporting hub. He stressed the significance of nurturing local coaches to uplift players and expressed confidence in Goa’s potential to host national-level events with the full support of the TTFI.
The GTTA, under the leadership of President Sudin Verenkar, enters a new era with a commitment to elevating table tennis in Goa to greater heights.
