Category: Sports

Sports

Dempo Challengers Defeat CD Fountainhead by Six Wickets: GSB Unity Cup 3.0

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Written by Intern Rency Gomes ||Team Allycaral 

Panaji: Dempo Challengers registered a commanding six-wicket win over CD Fountainhead in the GSB Unity Cup 3.0 cricket tournament organised by the Goa GSB Sports and Charitable Trust. The match was played under lights at the MCC ground in Margao on Wednesday.


After winning the toss, Dempo Challengers elected to bowl first. Skipper Aditya Angle led from the front with an impressive spell, claiming 4 wickets for 27 runs in his four overs. He was well supported by Shridhar Keni, who picked up 3 wickets for 25 runs, while Tunish Sawkar chipped in with one wicket.

For CD Fountainhead, captain Pranav Biche fought a lone battle, scoring a brisk 53 off 29 balls, including five boundaries and four sixes. Anish Prabhudesai added 20 runs, but the rest of the batting line-up failed to build partnerships as CD Fountainhead were bowled out for 136 in 19.3 overs.

Chasing 137, Dempo Challengers made light work of the target. Sumiran Amonkar and Tunish Sawkar struck impressive half-centuries and stitched together a crucial 78-run partnership for the second wicket. Amonkar smashed 51 off 30 balls with nine fours, while Sawkar scored 50 off 29 balls, hitting four boundaries and three sixes. Dempo reached 139 for 4 in just 13.5 overs to seal the win with 37 balls remaining.

For CD Fountainhead, Vikrant Prabhu and Niraj Wagle picked up a wicket each.

Aditya Angle was presented with the Desserts N More ‘Man of the Match’ award, while Tunish Sawkar received the Kamat Realty ‘Hero of the Match’ award from Amit Kamat and Vikram Gaitonde.

Brief Scores
CD Fountainhead 136 all out in 19.3 overs
(Pranav Biche 53, Anish Prabhudesai 20, Vikrant Prabhu 17, Extras 20; Aditya Angle 4/27, Shridhar Keni 3/25, Tunish Sawkar 1/40)

Lost to
Dempo Challengers 139/4 in 13.5 overs
(Sumiran Amonkar 51, Tunish Sawkar 50, Samar Dubhashi 12, Extras 9; Vikrant Prabhu 1/37, Niraj Wagle 1/10)

Sports

Rising Stars of Ponda Register Convincing 39-Run Win in GSB Unity Cup 3.0

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Written by Intern Rency Gomes ||Team Allycaral 

Margao: Rising Stars of Ponda recorded a commanding 39-run victory over Sinq Rangers in the GSB Unity Cup 3.0 cricket tournament organised by Goa GSB Sports & Charitable Trust. The floodlit match was played at the MCC Ground in Margao on Thursday.


Batting first after being invited to take strike, Rising Stars posted 151 all out in 19.5 overs. Gaurish Shenvi Lotlikar led the charge with a fluent 51, while Sanat Mhapne contributed 28 runs. Nandan Acharya added 20 and Ved Mahambre chipped in with 18.

For Sinq Rangers, Nikhil Virginkar delivered an impressive spell, claiming 4 wickets for 22 runs. Arin Angle and Sanat Kamat picked up two wickets each, while Sairaj Dhond claimed one.

Chasing 152 for victory, Sinq Rangers suffered an early collapse and were reduced to 21 for 6. The innings slipped further to 44 for 8 following the dismissals of Sudhir Kenkre and Nikhil Virginkar (14).

Coming in at number nine, Mehank Dharwadkar mounted a brave fightback with a quickfire 50 off 33 balls, including two fours and two sixes. However, he lacked support from the other end as Sinq Rangers were bowled out for 112 in 17.1 overs.

With the ball, Nandan Acharya starred for Rising Stars, taking 4 wickets for 28 runs, while Sanat Mhapne claimed 3 wickets for 14 runs to seal the win.

Social worker and cricket enthusiast Balkrishna Hodarkar, in the presence of Gurudatt Angle, presented the Man of the Match award to Sanat Mhapne and the Hero of the Match award to Nandan Acharya.

Brief Scores
Rising Stars of Ponda – 151 all out in 19.5 overs
(Gaurish Shenvi Lotlikar 51, Sanat Mhapne 28, Nandan Acharya 20, Ved Mahambre 18; Nikhil Virginkar 4/22, Arin Angle 2/21, Sanat Kamat 2/25, Sairaj Dhond 1/13)

Sinq Rangers – 112 all out in 17.1 overs
(Mehank Dharwadkar 50, Arin Angle 16, Nikhil Virginkar 14; Nandan Acharya 4/28, Sanat Mhapne 3/14)

Sports

SFA & GFDC Partner to Boost U-12 Girls’ Football in Goa

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Written by Intern Rency Gomes || Team Allycaral 

Mayem, Goa: Sesa Football Academy (SFA), in partnership with the Goa Football Development Council (GFDC), inaugurated the Sesa–GFDC Under-12 Girls’ Football Tournament at Mayem Ground, marking a significant step in strengthening grassroots football for young girls in the state.


The tournament, which commenced on January 29, 2026, has brought together over 300 young girls representing teams from across North and South Goa. It stands as one of the largest structured grassroots initiatives dedicated exclusively to girls’ football in Goa.

The inauguration ceremony was attended by Premendra Shet, MLA for Maem Constituency, as Chief Guest, along with Glenn Ticlo, Chairman, GFDC; Fransquinha Oliveira, Member Secretary, GFDC; Kunda Vishnu Mandrekar, ZP Member;  Vishant Pednekar, Sarpanch, V.P Maem; Seema Sanjay Arondekar, Panch Member, V.P Maem;  Nitin Gaddi, Council Member, GFDC; and executives from Vedanta Sesa Goa.

Addressing the gathering, Premendra Shet emphasised the importance of balancing academics and sports in a child’s holistic development. He commended SFA and GFDC for creating a structured platform that enables young girls to pursue sporting excellence alongside their education.

The participating teams have been divided into four zones.

Zone 1 (North): Arambol, Pernem, Mandrem, Tuem, Aldona, Poira

Zone 2 (North): Mayem, Sanquelim, Zarme, Valpoi, Savoiverem, Dona Paula

Zone 3 (South): Dabal, Cortalim, Sao Jose De Areal, Navelim, Seraulim

Zone 4 (South): Quepem, Uguem, Ambelim, Devabhag

Glenn Ticlo, Chairman, GFDC, reiterated the council’s commitment to strengthening grassroots football and highlighted the importance of collaborative efforts to raise the standard of the sport in the state. He acknowledged the support of Dr. Pramod Sawant, Chief Minister of Goa, and Ramesh Tawadkar, Minister for Sports, in promoting football development.

Speaking on behalf of Vedanta Sesa Goa, Leena Verenkar, Head – CSR & SCDF, stated that sports serve as a powerful enabler of social progress and individual transformation. She noted that the tournament not only provides competitive exposure but also promotes fitness and strengthens women’s football in Goa.

Member Secretary Fransquinha Oliveira described grassroots football as the backbone of Goan football and thanked Vedanta Sesa Goa and stakeholders for their continued support.

Hosting the event was a matter of pride for the Maem panchayat, said Sarpanch Vishant Pednekar, who appreciated the organisers for promoting structured sporting engagement for young girls.

Sesa Football Academy, with over 26 years of contribution to Goan football, has produced more than 230 footballers through its residential programme, including 14 players who have represented India internationally. Through its various initiatives, over 8,000 aspiring footballers have been provided platforms to showcase their talent.

The Sesa–GFDC U-12 Girls’ Tournament reflects a growing commitment to empowering young girls in sports and strengthening the future of women’s football in Goa.

Sports

Goa Women Clinch Thrilling 16-Run Win Over Saurashtra in Senior One Day Trophy

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Written by Intern Rency Gomes || Team Allycaral 

Panaji: The Goa women’s cricket team registered a hard-fought 16-run victory over Saurashtra in the Senior Women’s One Day Trophy Elite match played at the Taurian World School Ground in Ranchi on Tuesday. With this win, Goa climbed to fourth position in Group C with eight points.


After winning the toss and opting to bat first, Goa got off to a steady start. Openers Purvaja Verlekar and Harshita Yadav added 48 runs for the first wicket. Purvaja struck a composed 51 off 51 balls, hitting seven fours and a six, while Harshita contributed 34. Tejaswini Duragad supported well with 34 runs as Goa crossed the 100-run mark comfortably.

However, a middle-order collapse saw Goa slip from 122/1 to 147/6, losing Tanisha Gaikwad (0), Diksha Amonkar (4) and Vinavi Gurav (4) in quick succession.

At a crucial stage, Poorva Bhaidkar and Shreya Parab rebuilt the innings with a vital partnership. Poorva anchored the recovery with a brilliant 72 off 73 balls, including seven boundaries, while Shreya added a steady 42 off 45 balls. Presha Naik chipped in with a quick unbeaten 18 to power Goa to a competitive 272/8 in 50 overs. T. Dharani was the pick of the Saurashtra bowlers with figures of 4/48.

In reply, Saurashtra got off to a strong start through Umeshvari Jethva (47) and Riddhi Ruparel (82), who put on 96 runs for the opening wicket. Presha Naik broke the partnership, giving Goa a much-needed breakthrough.

Goa’s bowlers then tightened their grip on the game. Harshita Yadav and Poorva Bhaidkar claimed two wickets each, while Shreya Parab and Presha Naik chipped in with one wicket apiece.

Although Ayushi (44* off 33 balls) and Modhwadia (22* off 15 balls) attempted a late charge, Goa held their nerve in the final overs to restrict Saurashtra to 256/6 in 50 overs and seal a memorable 16-run victory.

Brief Scores:
Goa Women: 272/8 in 50 overs (Poorva Bhaidkar 72, Purvaja Verlekar 51, Shreya Parab 42, Harshita Yadav 34; T. Dharani 4/48)
Saurashtra Women: 256/6 in 50 overs (Riddhi Ruparel 82, Umeshvari Jethva 47, Ayushi 44*; Harshita Yadav 2/43, Poorva Bhaidkar 2/45)

Goa’s balanced performance with both bat and ball ensured a crucial win in the tournament.

Sports

Indian Racing Festival Makes Goa Debut with High-Octane Formula Street Race Weekend

Tanisha Cardozo

The Indian Racing Festival is set to break new ground this February with its first-ever Goa edition, transforming the state into a motorsport hub for a high-octane Formula Street Race Weekend. Scheduled for February 14 and 15, 2026, the event will see Round 4 of the Indian Racing League unfold at Manohar International Airport, marking a significant milestone in the festival’s rapid rise. The races will be broadcast on Star Sports Select 2 and streamed live on JioHotstar, ensuring nationwide visibility.

At the centre of the spectacle is a specially designed FIA-grade street circuit measuring 2.064 kilometres. Carved into the expansive airport layout, the track features 12 challenging turns designed to promote close racing, late braking, and constant position battles, setting the stage for an intense and unpredictable weekend.

The Goa Street Race comes at a crucial point in the championship, with only narrow margins separating the leading teams. Every lap around the Goa circuit is expected to play a decisive role in shaping the title fight. All teams will compete in identical Ligier JS F422 cars powered by a 1.3-litre turbocharged Alpine engine, ensuring that driver skill, strategy, and consistency take precedence over raw speed.

A defining feature of the Indian Racing League is its inclusive team structure. Each team fields four drivers comprising an experienced international racer, an emerging global talent, an Indian driver, and a female competitor. This format is aimed at raising competitive standards while nurturing Indian talent and promoting gender representation at the highest level of circuit racing in the country.

Among the drivers to watch in Goa is Divy Nandan of Hyderabad Black Birds, who arrives with experience in British F4 and GB3, along with a pole position at the Chennai Street Race during the 2024 F4 India Championship. Chennai Turbo Riders will rely on reigning Formula 4 India champion Aqil Alibhai, who brings African representation to the grid, reflecting the series’ growing international footprint. Kichcha’s Kings Bengaluru will look to Ruhaan Alva, the youngest race winner in IRL history and one of India’s most promising racing prospects.

European experience is led by Tom Canning of Kolkata Royal Tigers, a British GT champion and Aston Martin Academy graduate, alongside Jemma Moore, who brings GT4 and endurance racing pedigree. Adding star power off the track is an impressive roster of team owners from sport and cinema, including John Abraham with Goa Aces JA Racing, Arjun Kapoor with Speed Demons Delhi, Sourav Ganguly with Kolkata Royal Tigers, Naga Chaitanya with Hyderabad Black Birds, and Kichcha Sudeep with Kichcha’s Kings Bengaluru.

Beyond championship points and podium finishes, the Goa Street Race represents a statement of intent for the Indian Racing Festival. By bringing street racing to one of India’s most recognisable destinations, the festival signals its ambition to blend elite motorsport with spectacle and accessibility, positioning racing as both a sporting and cultural experience.

Tickets for the historic Goa Street Race are available on the District by Zomato app and website. Promoted by Racing Promotions Private Limited, the Indian Racing Festival continues to expand the reach of motorsport in India, following successful street races in Chennai and Hyderabad, while maintaining high standards of safety, operations, and fan engagement.