PANAJI
Goa emerged as the overall team champions at the 3rd National Women Masters Athletics Championship 2026 after finishing with an impressive haul of 74 medals at the Athletics Stadium, Cujira, Santa Cruz, on Sunday.
Organised by the Goa Masters Athletic Association, the championship saw the hosts dominate the medal standings with 29 gold, 25 silver and 20 bronze medals. Goa comfortably outpaced a strong Maharashtra contingent, which finished second with 53 medals (27 gold, 14 silver and 12 bronze), while Tamil Nadu secured third place with 66 medals.
Goa’s title-winning campaign was powered by several standout individual performances. After Betty Sebastian D’Silva opened the championship with three gold medals in the 60+ category on the first day, three more Goan athletes replicated the feat by winning gold in all three events they contested.
Devi Gaonkar excelled in the 50+ category, claiming gold in discus throw, javelin throw and shot put. Melida Pereira dominated the 75+ track events, winning the 100m, 200m and 400m races, while the championship’s oldest participant, Maria Imelda de Sousa, swept the 90+ category with gold medals in shot put, javelin throw and the 100m race.
Former footballer Ritinha Pereira also impressed, winning gold medals in high jump and triple jump while settling for silver in the long jump.
Goa’s remarkable performance was further highlighted by the success of its athletes in the individual championship awards. Betty D’Silva, Devi Gaonkar and Maria Imelda de Sousa were adjudged individual champions in their respective age groups.
The championship featured athletes across 13 age categories, ranging from 30+ to 90+, with competitors contesting 19 events in each group, including track, field, throwing and jumping disciplines.
Goa’s dominance extended to the relay events as well. The hosts enjoyed particular success in the 45+ category, where their quartet clinched gold medals in both the 4x100m and 4x400m relays. Goa also added six relay silver medals and one bronze, with the 40+ team finishing runners-up in both relay events.
Individual Champions: Sanaya George (30+, Maharashtra), Aysha Bilimoria (35+, Maharashtra), Sarika Kumari (40+, Delhi), Pratima Sonni (45+, Maharashtra), Devi Gaonkar (50+, Goa), Archana Rajput (55+, Uttar Pradesh), Betty D’Silva (60+, Goa), Krishna (65+, Delhi), Ponnamma Poovanna (70+, Karnataka), Vidula P. Bhatt (75+, Gujarat), Thodam Akasini Devi (80+, Manipur) and Maria Imelda de Sousa (90+, Goa).
