The Goan Network
Panaji
Clube Tennis de Gaspar Dias, Miramar with a legacy spanning 90 years is set to host the State level ranking tournament in partnership with Goa State Tennis Association (GSTA) shortly. The tournament to be held between January 25-31 is set to be a permanent opening fixture in the calendar year of GSTA.
The event is supported by Arjun Gadre of the Gadre Group, a committed player who has played across various tennis circuits. Apart from the title sponsor, Caculo Mall, Alcon Group, Vision Group, M/S Mathias Constructions, Priority Group, M/S Zantye, Dempo Group of Companies, M/S Lawande Group, M/S Adwalpalkar Constructions, Counto Honda, Mapusa and Real Drinks have come forward to support the sport that promotes fitness and a healthy lifestyle.
Speaking at a press conference held at Clube Tennis de Gaspar Dias, Miramar last evening, Yogesh Nadkarni, President, Clube Tennis de Gaspar Dias, had this to say. “It has been a question often asked to us why the sport, ‘tennis’ in its nomenclature? To which he replies that the Clube which was established in 1926 by local citizens was initially called Clube de Gaspar Dias. It was only because of Josephine Hogaz, an American Industrial magnate who introduced tennis in Goa by financing the first court at the Clube in 1934 that tennis found its origin among the club members which subsequently found an introduction of another court on its premises that eventually led to the growth of the sport elsewhere in the State.” He goes on to state that the Clube which has a strength of 2000 members aims to promote, develop and encourage sport, apart from a host of other cultural activities with its affiliation to clubs across Goa to even overseas. Speaking further on their infrastructure, besides the two tennis courts, he says there are facilities for squash, badminton, table tennis, snooker, billiards, a gymnasium, a cards room and a swimming pool. He expressed his gratitude to GSTA for associating themselves to the upcoming tourney and envisions confidence of a big success.
Rajesh Khaunte, Secretary, Clube Tennis de Gaspar Dias added, that the forthcoming tourney would be scheduled between 7-10 am in the morning and under floodlights from 4-10 pm in the evening. January 22 would be the last date for entries with participation forms available on the Club website, www.clubegaspardias.com. He further stated that Natasha Palha, Goa’s flag-bearer in tennis has consented to be the chief guest on the concluding day, January 31 at 7 pm. In reply to a query, he reveals that the two courts are synthetic and are recently done up in preparation of the said tourney. Taking care of the players’ medical needs, there will be a doctor on call in the course of the competition, he added. Nathan Chowgule, President of GSTA, expressed full confidence that with the refurbished tennis courts at Clube Tennis de Gaspar Dias, a new chapter in tennis not only opens up at the Club but in Goa as well. He reveals that Gadre have extended their title sponsor support for the next two years to the forthcoming State level ranking tourney. When they were approached by the Clube to have the tourney under their aegis, they (GSTA) graciously accepted the offer to organize a State level ranking tourney there. This tourney would be held across ten categories - Under 12 (Girls and Boys), Under 16 (Girls and Boys), Men’s Singles, Ladies’ Singles, Men’s Doubles, Mixed Doubles, Veteran Singles and Veteran Doubles. He further announced that the draw for the tournament with prize money of
Rs 55,000 is expected to
receive around 100 entries which will be announced on January 23 on club’s noticeboard and website. About the format of the tournament, it was announced that the first few rounds till semis will be single-setters while the semis and finals would be best-of- three sets.
