Noel, Audrey lead charge with double gold
Goa's Clarence Noronha with Audrey Menezes (50+ Mixed Doubles).
PANAJI
Goa pickleball players delivered a stellar performance at the 9th All India Pickleball Association Nationals in Jammu, signing off with an impressive tally of five gold and two silver medals. The campaign was spearheaded by double gold medallists Noel Noronha and Audrey Menezes.
Noel clinched the 50+ Men’s Singles title and paired with Wilfred Jaques to win the 50+ Men’s Doubles crown. Audrey matched his feat by winning the 50+ Women’s Singles and combining with Clarence Noronha to secure the 50+ Mixed Doubles title.
James Anderson and Parag Joshi added another gold in the 60+ Men’s Doubles, while Anderson also picked up a silver in the 60+ Men’s Singles. Other podium finishes included Nihaal and Ruta Borkar (silver, 35+ Mixed Doubles) and teenager Tvisha Sardesai (bronze, U16 Girls Singles). Goa’s overall medal haul earned them the Veterans Team Winners trophy.
Goa’s strong showing also featured several narrow misses, with Aarin Ballani (U14 Boys), Taksh Parekh (U16 Boys) and Rajaram Kundaikar (35+ Men’s Singles) falling just short in bronze playoff matches. The young duo of Ballani and Parekh reached the quarterfinals in the Boys U16 Doubles, while Ajay Sardesai and Vinod Parkkot exited at the same stage in the 50+ Doubles. Nihaal Borkar bowed out in the pre-quarterfinals of the 35+ Men’s Singles.
Mayur Sawkar, President of the Goa Pickleball Association, hailed the success: “The Nationals highlight the talent and potential of pickleball in Goa. With new courts coming up at Clube Tennis de Gaspar Dias, Panjim Gymkhana, BPS Sports Club, and other private venues, the sport is growing rapidly, and Goa can truly emerge as a pickleball destination.”
Association Secretary Mangirish Kunde added: “The association held many practice sessions before the Nationals, and the results show the player dedication. Strong communities in Panaji, Margao, Vasco, and other towns are driving this progress.”
