PANAJI
Goa’s junior athletes continued their impressive run at the 37th West Zone Junior Athletics Championship, taking their medal tally to 28 after the second day of competition at the Atal Athletics Stadium, Bambolim, on Monday.
Goa have so far won five gold, 10 silver and 13 bronze medals at the three-day championship, being hosted by the Goa Athletics Association after the Athletics Federation of India awarded the state the hosting rights.
The championship, which concludes on Tuesday, has attracted around 800 athletes from eight states and Union Territories — Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Dadra and Nagar Haveli, Daman and Diu, and Goa. A total of 84 events are being conducted across the U-14, U-16, U-18 and U-20 boys’ and girls’ categories.
Goa added several medals on the second day.
Vinit Khandekar won silver in the U-20 boys’ hammer throw, while Rushala Gavander took bronze in the U-20 girls’ 1500m. Rasika Patil added bronze in the U-20 girls’ hammer throw and Rohaan Khan won bronze in the U-20 boys’ long jump.
The U-20 girls’ 100m hurdles produced two medals for Goa, with Riddhi Sawant taking silver and Yukta Salkar bronze. Saisha Gawas won bronze in the triple jump, while Sherin Vargish secured bronze in the 400m.
In the U-18 category, Cindrella Pawar won silver in the girls’ 400m.
Goa also enjoyed success in the younger age groups. Chrisel Soares won bronze in the U-14 girls’ kids javelin.
The U-16 girls’ 600m produced a gold-silver finish for Goa, with Sakshi Naik winning gold and Anora Gracies taking silver. Raviranjan Sharma added silver in the U-16 boys’ long jump.
Another gold-silver combination came in the U-16 girls’ pentathlon, where Archi Katkar topped the field and Shyla Naik finished second.
Goa had made a strong start on the opening day as well. Sonu Kumar won gold and Sushant Gaonkar silver in the U-20 boys’ 5000m, while Rasika Patil claimed silver in the U-20 girls’ javelin throw.
Xanelle Lacerda won gold in the U-18 girls’ high jump, with Alana Da Gama taking bronze. Neeve Naik won silver and Shyla Naik bronze in the U-16 girls’ 80m hurdles, while Archi Katkar added bronze in the U-16 girls’ 60m.
Samarth Negui won gold in the U-16 boys’ 60m and David Godinoh took silver. Goa also claimed bronze in the U-18 boys’ medley relay, U-18 girls’ medley relay and U-20 4x100m mixed relay.
With the championship entering its final day, Goa’s athletes will look to add to their medal tally and cap a strong home campaign at the Atal Athletics Stadium.
