PANAJI
A moment of pride for Goan sports as Purti Amey Lotlikar, a talented judoka from Bandora, Ponda, has been selected to train at the prestigious Sports Authority of India (SAI) National Centre of Excellence (NCOE) in Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh.
This elite training facility, run by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, Government of India, grooms India’s top young athletes for future Olympic and international competitions.
Purti’s selection comes on the back of her medal-winning performance at the 2024 Khelo India Youth Games held in Kerala, and her outstanding showing at the 2025 Cadet Nationals in Pune, which caught the attention of national selectors.
Born on October 20, 2009, Purti competes in the 40 kg category and is among the 45 top judokas selected from across India this year. Her journey in judo began at the age of 11 under the guidance of Shri Aditya Kankonkar, an international judo player, at the Bandora Judo Center, Nageshi, Ponda.
Purti’s achievement has been made possible through the constant support of her parents, Arya and Amey Lotlikar, and the continued encouragement from the Goa Judo Association.
“Purti’s selection is a proud moment for all of Goa. It shows that with the right training and support, Goan athletes can compete at the national and international level. We congratulate her and will continue to support her journey,” said Girish Pednekar, President, and Kripesh Vengurlekar, Secretary, Goa Judo Association, in a joint statement.
Her induction into the SAI NCOE Bhopal reflects the faith selectors have placed in her ability to represent India on the global stage in the years to come.
