Joywin Costa receives the Player of the Match award from Casmiro Dias.
MARGAO
Parish Youth Nuvem clinched a hard-fought 7-6 penalty shoot-out win over Shiroda Youth Club to advance to the semifinals of the 2nd Late Fernando Abranches Memorial Trophy at the Village Panchayat ground, Verna, on Thursday.
The quarterfinal of the tournament organised by United Club of Verna, saw both sides locked in an intense end-to-end battle that remained goalless through regulation time. Nuvem pressed through the trio of Joywin Costa, Drawin Colaco and Cidroy Colaco, but failed to breach the Shiroda defence, while Shiroda squandered late chances through Royston Vaz and Placito Cruz.
In the ensuing tie-breaker, Nuvem held their nerve as Cidroy Colaco, Drawin Colaco, Luis Barreto, Royson Mascarenhas, Joywin Costa, Cedar Colaco and Francisco Colaco converted their spot-kicks. For Shiroda, Royston Vaz, Placito Cruz, Climax Fernandes, Sanchalo Fernandes, Vikranth Gaude and Prajwal Ghadi found the target, but one miss proved decisive. Joywin Costa of Nuvem was named Player of the Match and received the award from Casmiro Dias.
====
Guardian Angel SC rout PY Nuvem 4-0
MARGAO: Guardian Angel SC booked a semifinal berth in the Vaidya Family Inter-Village Football Tournament with a convincing 4-0 win over Parish Youth Nuvem at the Cuncolim School ground on Thursday. Guardian Angel took control early and went into the break with a one-goal advantage through Vitorino Fernandes. The side stepped up the tempo after the interval, doubling the lead in the 31st minute when Regan Costa finished off a pass from Vitorino Fernandes. Sheldon Fernandes added the third goal in the 47th minute before Valerian Hilario sealed the emphatic victory with the fourth in the 54th minute.
Parish Youth Nuvem had opportunities to reduce the margin but failed to capitalise, with Bryson Colaco and Frazer Miranda missing clear chances. Sheldon Fernandes of Guardian Angel SC was named man of the match, with the award presented by club members Alton Cardoz and Brian Baptista.
====
Anush earns FIDE rapid rating
PANAJI: Fourteen-year-old Anush Nair of St Mary High School, Ponda, has achieved an international FIDE rapid rating of 1405 in chess. Anush attained the milestone through consistent performances in rated tournaments and is trained under the guidance of FIDE instructor Wilson Cruz at Champions Chess Academy.
====
Goa teams for nat tennis-ball cricket c'ship
PANAJI: The Goa Tennis Ball Cricket Association has finalised the Goa State men’s and women’s teams for the 36th Senior National Tennis Ball Cricket Championship, scheduled to be held in Nagpur from January 19 to 22. The men’s side will be led by Harsh Gala, while Deesha Kambli will captain the women’s team.
Men’s team: Harsh Gala (captain), Kannaya Gaude, Vijay Halgekar, Akshad Naik, Tanay Harmalkar, Pratik Naik, Prajyot Naik, Ranjit Gosavi, Rohan Naik, Kundan Gaude, Vaibhav Velip, Prajyot Dessai, Sanish Kumar, Sushant Sawant and Puneet Khandeparkar; Women’s team: Deesha Kambli (captain), Pratiksha Kerkar, Purva Gawde, Kanaksha Gaude, Annaliz Gomes, Laxmi Majik, Siddhi Chari, Vibha Jalmi, Pradyna Pednekar, Falguli Fadte Gaonkar, Chaitrali Maestri, Rakhi Giri, Sonam Raikar, Prathana Borkar and Raee Untekar.
====
Sarsangan Series: Saga Smashers take 3-0 lead
MARGAO: Saga Smashers underlined their dominance with back-to-back emphatic victories over Shivtej Warriors in the 2nd and 3rd Tests to take an unassailable 3-0 lead in the Sarsangan U19 Boys & Girls Test Cricket Series. In the second Test, Saga Smashers laid the foundation with 243 for 5, built around a solid opening stand between Dhruv Kamat and Om Keny, before contributions from Pramay Prabhu, Jairam Agni and Swapnil Nayak. Shivtej Warriors collapsed for 51 in reply, as Kush Pai Raiker and Samarth Bandiwadekar shared eight wickets. Saga Smashers then added 187 for 4 to set an imposing target, before bowling out Shivtej for 115 to complete a 264-run win. Kush Pai Raiker was named man of the match for his all-round display.
The third Test followed a similar script. Shivtej were dismissed for 154, with Jairam Agni leading the bowling, while Saga Smashers replied with 184 to gain a 30-run lead. Shivtej again faltered in their second innings, managing just 108, leaving Saga Smashers a modest chase of 79, which they completed comfortably for the loss of three wickets. Om Keny starred with bat and ball to earn the man-of-the-match award.
