Goa’s Lloyd Fernandes has made history by clinching two consecutive gold medals at the Para Table Tennis National Ranking Championship and Para Senior Table Tennis National Championship. Both events were held at the Sama Indoor Sports Complex in Vadodara, Gujarat, from March 17-19 and March 21-23, 2025, respectively.
Competing in the Men’s Class-2 category, Lloyd displayed outstanding skill and determination. In the National Ranking Championship final, he triumphed over Avinash Gopinathan of Tamil Nadu with a 3-1 victory (11-6, 13-15, 11-8, 16-14). Continuing his dominant performance, Lloyd edged past Avinash once again in the Senior National Championship final with a thrilling 3-2 win (11-8, 8-11, 7-11, 11-6, 11-9).
These back-to-back victories have propelled Lloyd to the No. 1 ranking in India in the Men’s Class-2 category, marking a significant achievement for Goan para-sports.
Goa’s Chetan Salgaonkar also competed in the championships, putting up a valiant fight in the quarter-finals of the Para Senior Table Tennis National Championship. He faced Ravinder Yadav of Haryana in a closely-contested match, eventually bowing out with a 3-2 scoreline (8-11, 11-7, 7-11, 11-8, 7-11). Chetan currently holds the No. 5 ranking in India in the Men’s Class-9 category.
The tournaments were organised by the Table Tennis Association of Baroda under the aegis of the Gujarat State Table Tennis Association and the Table Tennis Federation of India. The events brought together top para-athletes from across the country, showcasing remarkable talent and sportsmanship.
Lloyd’s achievements serve as an inspiration to aspiring athletes in Goa and across India. His determination and success highlight the growing strength of para-sports in the nation.
