Goa Olympic Association has lauded the impressive campaign of Goa’s Tanisha Crasto at the Asian Games 2026 in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, where she represented India in both the women’s team and mixed doubles events.
In the individual mixed doubles, Tanisha, partnering Dhruv Kapila, reached the quarter-finals, where the Indian pair produced a superb fight against world No. 1 China’s Feng Yanzhe and Huang Dongping before going down 14-21, 21-18, 18-21.
The pair pushed the world’s top-ranked combination to the limit and came within touching distance of a major upset. Tanisha was also part of the Indian women’s team that went down fighting 1-3 to defending champions Japan in the quarter-finals of the team event. Tanisha and Katya Coelho are the only two Goan athletes to have qualified for the Asian Games 2026.
GOA President Sadanand Shet Tanavade, Secretary General Sandeep Heble and Treasurer Jayesh Naik had met Sports Authority of Goa Executive Director Dr Ajay Gaude earlier on Monday, where they discussed the need for a structured Government support mechanism, on the lines of the Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS), for Goa athletes with Olympic potential.
The GOA office-bearers pointed out that athletes such as Tanisha, who have demonstrated their ability to compete at the highest international level, require sustained support through the Olympic qualification cycle. Dr Gaude expressed his support for the idea and said the proposal could be examined.
“I have personally spoken to Tanisha a few days back. Her prize money files have received Government approval and the amounts due will be disbursed shortly,” the Director informed the delegation. Heble, who is a former Secretary of the Goa Badminton Association, added: “Tanisha has demonstrated that she belongs at the highest level of world badminton. Having followed her journey closely, I firmly believe she has the ability and potential to qualify for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics and build on her achievement of representing India at Paris 2024. Athletes of Tanisha’s calibre need consistent support through the qualification cycle, and a structured Government scheme for Olympic-potential athletes would give them the confidence and stability to focus on training and international competition. Goa must do everything possible to support athletes like Tanisha, Yash Fadte and other top performing athletes in realising their full potential.”
