Goa will be the host of the Yonex Sunrise 47th Indian Masters (Veteran) National Badminton Championship 2025, set to take place from March 16 to 23 at Peddem Indoor Stadium, Mapusa, Goa. This prestigious tournament serves as the selection event for the BWF World Seniors Championship, attracting over 2,200 players and 2,700 entries across 45 events, ranging from the 35+ to 75+ age groups.
The championship will feature former Indian national and international badminton stars, such as Leroy D’Sa, Abhin Shyam Gupta, Joy Anthony, Nikhil Kanitkar, Vijay Lancy, S Banu and many more, ensuring a fiercely competitive tournament. The details were announced at a press conference held at a city hotel in Panaji.
Addressing the media, Chief Patron of the Goa Badminton Association (GBA), Shrinivas Dempo, highlighted the far-reaching impact of hosting such a prestigious national event in Goa. He emphasized how tournaments like the Indian Masters Nationals not only boost sports culture but also contribute to tourism, economic growth, and community fitness.
Reflecting on his company’s long-standing commitment to sports, Dempo spoke about Dempo Group’s Goodwill Ambassador Scheme, which nurtures young Goan talent. He congratulated Aarush Pawaskar, a Dempo-supported athlete, for winning a Silver Medal at the France International Open in Sub-Juniors and reiterated his commitment to supporting emerging Goan athletes. He also lauded the Goa Badminton Association for completing 60 years of excellence and expressed confidence that this year’s initiatives would have a lasting impact on badminton in the state.
GBA President Manoj Patil took the opportunity to celebrate Goa’s rich badminton legacy, recalling icons like Late Rasik Painguinkar, Michael D’sa, Ashutosh and Leena Pednekar, as well as modern-day stars like Anura Prabhu Desai and Anushka Kuvelkar, former India’s No.1 players, and Tanisha Crasto, who represented India at the Paris Olympics. He also recognized rising Goan talents Arjun Fallary, Lydia Barreto, and Aarush Pawaskar, all of whom have represented India internationally.
To mark the 60th Anniversary of the Goa Badminton Association, Patil announced a series of seven key initiatives designed to further develop and promote badminton in Goa. These include the launch of a Grassroots Badminton Program, ensuring structured training opportunities in every Taluka of Goa, and the hosting of two All India Ranking Tournaments for the Sub-Junior (U15 & U17) and Mini (U13) categories, which are expected to attract around 3,000 young players from across the country. Other initiatives include a Technical Officials’ Workshop to train more referees and umpires, a Talent Identification Program to support young rising prospects, and a School Outreach Program aimed at introducing badminton at the grassroots level. Additionally, a Corporate Badminton Tournament will be organized to engage Goa’s business community, and a Grand Badminton Convention will bring together past and present players to celebrate Goa’s badminton journey.
Further elaborating on the tournament structure, GBA Secretary Praveen Shenoy highlighted that the Indian Masters National Championship will be conducted in two phases—the 35+ to 50+ categories from March 16 to 20 and the 55+ to 75+ categories from March 20 to 23. With 90 technical officials from across India, including those from Goa, the event will be meticulously officiated, ensuring a world-class experience for players. The matches will also be live-streamed, allowing fans across India to witness the action. Shenoy also introduced Goa’s top contenders for the championship, including Sandhya Melasheemi, Leena Pednekar, Dr. Manju Khandeparkar, and Dr. Satish Kudchadkar, who are expected to make a strong impact, among others.
The championship, with a budget of ₹50 lakh, is being supported through private sponsorships, grants from the Badminton Association of India (BAI), and partly covered by entry fees. The Goa Badminton Association commended the Goa Government for the World class sports facilities which makes hosting of such large events happen in Goa. Looking to the future, Shenoy reaffirmed GBA’s commitment to making Goa a badminton hub and highlighted the successful hosting of a BWF Level 1 Coaching Workshop, where five Goan coaches earned international certification—a major step toward strengthening Goa’s coaching ecosystem.
With an action-packed year ahead, GBA invites players, fans, and supporters to be part of its 60th Anniversary celebrations and the Indian Masters National Championship 2025. The association remains committed to nurturing talent, promoting badminton, and creating a lasting sporting legacy for future generations.
