YMCA Goa successfully hosted the Para Table Tennis event as part of their 8th All-Goa Major Ranking Tournament at the SAG Indoor Stadium, Campal. This year, the YMCA took a significant step towards inclusivity by introducing the Para category for the first time, welcoming 25 talented Para-TT players from across Goa to compete in two different categories.
The tournament saw enthusiastic participation, with 10 standing players and 15 wheelchair players showcasing their skills and sportsmanship.
The inclusion of the Para category highlights YMCA’s commitment to providing equal opportunities and promoting para sports. Among the competitors was Lloyd Fernandes, Gold Medallist at the National Para Championship in classification 2 wheelchair category. Sadaf Fatima, another highlight, competed with the men in the wheelchair category, and 9-year-old Rayansh Sawant participated in the standing category for the first time in Goa.
Para players in the standing category included Alex Domnic Albuquerque, Sarvesh Paidarkar, Fleev Andrade, Niklesh Pednekar, Gopal Naik, Sandeep Shirodkar, Santosh Rama Gawas, Chandrakant Vithal Gaude, Ritesh Vaigankar, and Rayansh Sawant. Alex Domnic Albuquerque won the final, while Ritesh Vaigankar took home the runner-up trophy.
In the wheelchair category, Lloyd Fernandes, Mahesh Pagadala, Melvin Mendes, Santosh Aigal, Moises Rodrigues, Mithun Shirodkar, Durgada Naik, Dharmanna Kuri, Stany D’Souza, Patrick D’Souza, Sadaf Fatima, Santosh Mayekar, Vishant Nagvekar, and Dr. Vithal Rane competed. The winner’s crown was claimed by Lloyd Fernandes, and the runner-up was Moises Rodrigues.
Para Standing Final: Alex Albuquerque def. Ritesh Vaigankar 3-0 (11-7, 11-6, 13-11)
Para WheelChair Final: Lloyd Fernandes def. Moises Rodrigues 3-1 (11-3, 11-5, 7-11, 11-5).
