PANAJI: Power Smashers emerged champions while Team Predators finished runners-up at the two-day Vasco Badminton League 2021, conducted by Chicalim Badminton Club (CBC) in association with Goa Badminton Association (GBA).
Power Smashers beat Team Predators 120-106 in a specially-created points format for the team championship event.
At one point of time, Team Predators had a five-point lead over Power Smashers. However, the mixed doubles pair of Manish Pankhania and Siya Kolwalkar turned the tide and gave their team an insurmountable 10-point lead against Team Predators and thereafter, it was always a catchup race for Team Predators.
The third place play-off was between Goan Rebels and Amigos Shuttlers. It was a close contest with Goan Rebels ultimately emerging victorious with a 120-117 scoreline.
The best men’s player of the tournament prize was awarded to Manish Pankhania while best women’s player was Siya Kolwalkar. Outstanding individual performances: Yash Desai, Disha Dutta, Arjun Chauhan and Ritika Chelluri. Narhar Thakur, GBA President, Sandeep Heble, GBA Secretary, Devesh Shirodkar of Shirodkar Shipyards, Prashant Kamath of Solas Marine Services Group along with CBC Executive committee members Praveen Shenoy (President), Kailash Davne (Secretary), Devanand Shirodkar (Treasurer), Fredrick Fernandes (Jt Secretary) and Aniket Redkar (Jt Treasurer) graced the finals.
SQUADS:
Power Smashers (Champions):
Nilesh Naik (Captain), Manish Pankhania (Vice Captain), Karan Dhavaskar, Pranav Silimkhan, Chetan Magdum, Gaurang Bhangui, Sadiq Attar, Soham Mandrekar , Alex Colaco, Anuj Vernekar, Kiefer Jacques, Siya Kolwalkar, Salauni Naik, Saanvi Kelekar.
Team Predators (Runners-up):
Damodar Poojary (Captain), Sohan Naik (Vice Captain), Fredrick Fernandes, Navneet Nasnodkar, Mahammad Nadaf, Ayoob CK, Shamsudeen CK, Naresh Asoldekar, Pradeep Prabhu, Rashmir Matonkar, Shubham Naik, Sidhant Naik, Anar Singbal, Rida Shaikh, Trisha Bidye.
Goan Rebels (3rd-place):
Praveen Shenoy (Captain), Aditya Dessai (Vice-Captain), Parteek Mahajan, Yash Kunkalienkar, Yash Desai, Aniket Redkar, Neehal Dessai, Karan Randhawa, Divyesh Shirsat, Dhanraj Shetkar, Pratik Sawant, Dinesh Pai, Yasmin Sayed, Kaushika Gaonkar and Ritika Chelluri.
