PANAJI
Top National table tennis veterans including multiple-time medalists Jayant Kulkarni, Suhas Rane, Moon Moon Mukherjee, and Manish Rawat will headline the Multi-State Veterans Table Tennis Team Championship to be held on June 14 and 15, 2025, at the Indoor Stadium, Campal, Panaji.
Organized by the Panjim Morning Stars Sports Club (PMSSC), this unique two-day tournament will bring together top veterans from four Indian states, promising a blend of elite competition and vibrant camaraderie.
There is a formidable contingent from Maharashtra, including Jayant Kulkarni, national gold medalist in the 59+ category; Suhas Rane, the current Maharashtra No.1; Moon Moon Mukherjee, National Champion in the Women’s 39+ category and winner of 25+ International medals; and Manish Rawat, 39+ National Champion. Other prominent names from the state include national-ranked players Atmaram Gangarde and Deepesh Abhyankar. From Karnataka, some of the top players include Ramkumar UN, 39+ silver medalist and Singapore Veterans Open Champion, along with top performers like Kshitij Malhotra, Shivvkumar, and Sandeep SS. From Madhya Pradesh, Kishor Motwani and Vishal Jain who hold high National rank add further depth to the championship.
Goa too will showcase its veteran talent. Noel Noronha, a former State Champion who dominated the state rankings for 17 long years, will be eager to showcase his skills. Other Goa players in action will be seasoned players such as Arun Naik, Amit Naik, Deepak Gopani, Satish Agrahar, and Niraj Kannure. Speaking at a press conference, Noronha expressed that the championship is a much-needed opportunity for Goan players to gain exposure to high-level competition. “Our players have potential, but we miss the kind of exposure available outside Goa. This tournament gives us that rare chance,” he said.
The event will feature 16 teams comprising players in the 39+, 49+, and 59+ age categories, with each team fielding six players”two per age category, featuring a mix of men and women. Matches will be conducted throughout the two days, with the opening ceremony on June 14 at 10:00 AM and the closing ceremony scheduled for June 15 at 6:00 PM. A grand gala dinner is also part of the event, reinforcing the spirit of fellowship among veteran players. Margao’s Deepak Chodankar, a qualified National referee, will serve as the Chief Referee for the championship, which has a total budget of ₹5 lakhs and features a cash prize pool of ₹1 lakh along with attractive trophies.
