Tag: Goa sports

Sports

AAI Kicks Off Inter-PSU Football Championship 2026: A Celebration of Synergy, Sportsmanship and the Spirit ofthe Game

Tanisha Cardozo

The Airports Authority of India (AAI) has officially kicked off the Inter-PSU Football Championship 2026, transforming Goa into a hub of competitive sport, camaraderie, and celebration. Designed as a premier sporting platform for India’s Public Sector Undertakings, the tournament reflects AAI’s continued commitment to fostering fitness, teamwork, and a vibrant sports culture within the public sector.

The championship brings together 12 elite PSU teams, including AAI, Bank of Baroda, Coal India, CAG, EPFO, ESIC, FCI, RBI, SAIL, Union Bank and others. Over the course of a week, these teams will compete in a league-cum-knockout format, ensuring intense matches, high-energy performances, and sustained engagement for players and spectators alike.

Beyond competition, the tournament carries a larger purpose. It seeks to strengthen inter-organizational bonds and promote a “Fit India” lifestyle among employees, reinforcing the idea that physical fitness and teamwork are essential to professional excellence. The football pitch becomes a shared space where collaboration, resilience, and mutual respect take centre stage.

Speaking on the occasion, Flt. Lt. Akash Deep, Airport Director, Goa International Airport, Dabolim, highlighted the broader vision behind the initiative. He noted that the spirit of collaboration witnessed on the football field directly translates into professional synergy, adding that the tournament is not merely about scoring goals, but about building unity and shared purpose within the public sector. He also described the championship as a major football event coinciding with the vibrant Goa Carnival season.

The Inter-PSU Football Championship 2026 will be held from 14th to 19th February 2026, with matches hosted at two prominent venues—PJN Stadium, Fatorda, and Rosary Ground Stadium, Navelim. The Opening Ceremony is scheduled for 15th February 2026 at 9:00 am at PJN Stadium, Fatorda, and will be graced by Shri Vipin Kumar, IAS, Chairman, Airports Authority of India.

As a Mini Ratna Category-I Public Sector Enterprise, the Airports Authority of India plays a pivotal role in developing and managing India’s civil aviation infrastructure. Through initiatives such as the Inter-PSU Football Championship, AAI continues to extend its impact beyond airports—championing employee welfare, community engagement, and the unifying power of sport.

With football, fitness, and fellowship at its core, the Inter-PSU Football Championship 2026 stands as a celebration of “Team India” beyond office walls.

Sports

8th All Goa State Wushu Championship 2026 Held in Anjuna

Tanisha Cardozo

The 8th All Goa State Wushu Championship 2026 along with the 2nd Inter-College Wushu Competition 2026 was successfully organised by the Association of Goa Wushu, in association with the Village Panchayat of Anjuna Caisua, Chivar, Chapora, on January 29 and 30, 2026, at the Anjuna–Caisua Panchayat Hall, Chivar, Chapora, Goa.

The championship was inaugurated by Mr. Surendra Sazu Govekar, Sarpanch of Anjuna Caisua Village Panchayat, in the presence of Panchayat members Mr. Dinesh Patil and Mr. Sudesh Parsekar, along with Mr. Paulo Killman Fernandes, Secretary of the Association of Goa Wushu, and other dignitaries.

The Village Panchayat of Anjuna Caisua supported the sport of Wushu by extending full cooperation and encouragement for the successful conduct of the championship, reflecting its commitment towards promoting martial arts and grassroots sports development.

The winners were felicitated with medals and trophies by Mrs. Delilah Lobo, MLA of the Siolim Constituency, and Mrs. Niyati Chimulkar, Vice President of the Association of Goa Wushu, along with the Sarpanch and Panchayat members of Anjuna Caisua. The event was officiated by Mr. Ashok Mokashi and Mr. Sangamesh Layadagundi, National Judges (WAI) from the Karnataka Wushu Association, who were invited for the competition.

The championship witnessed enthusiastic participation from players across Goa in the Sub-Junior, Junior and Senior categories for both boys and girls. Competitions were held in Taolu and Sanda disciplines across respective weight categories. The Inter-College Wushu events were conducted separately, showcasing emerging talent from various colleges.

All participating players were awarded participation certificates, while winners received medals and certificates. Mementoes were also presented to coaches and physical education teachers, and trophies were awarded to the overall champion teams, marking the successful conclusion of the two-day sporting event.

Sports

GFDC Holds First Council Meeting Under New Chairman Glenn Ticlo

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Written by Intern Rency Gomes || Team Allycaral 

The meeting outlined several strategic decisions aimed at creating a strong and sustainable football ecosystem in Goa. Among the key proposals discussed was the appointment of a Technical Director to oversee football development programmes and ensure uniform technical standards across all GFDC initiatives.


The council also deliberated on the establishment of GFDC North and South Academies to provide structured and accessible training opportunities for young footballers across different regions of the state. This move is expected to decentralise football development and widen talent identification at the grassroots level.

Improving football infrastructure and ensuring access to quality equipment formed a major part of the discussions. The council emphasised the importance of conducting regular coaches’ workshops, upgrading coaching licences and promoting continuous education to enhance coaching standards across Goa.

Strengthening GFDC’s operational capacity was also taken up, with discussions on evaluating the performance of existing coaches and inducting new, committed professionals dedicated to long-term football development in the state.

Speaking after the meeting, Chairman Glenn Ticlo said the council’s priority was to put the right systems in place, from technical leadership to infrastructure and coaching quality, to ensure Goan footballers receive the best possible support. He added that the proposed regional academies would help ensure equal opportunities for talent from all parts of Goa.

The Goa Football Development Council reaffirmed its commitment to working closely with all stakeholders to take Goan football to greater heights in the years ahead.

Sports

8th All Goa State Wushu Championship and 2nd Inter-College Wushu Competition 2026 Held at Anjuna

rencygomes02

Written by Intern Rency Gomes || Team Allycaral 

The 8th All Goa State Wushu Championship 2026 along with the 2nd Inter-College Wushu Competition 2026 was successfully organised by the Association of Goa Wushu in association with the Village Panchayat of Anjuna Caisua, Chivar and Chapora, on January 29 and 30, 2026, at the Anjuna–Caisua Panchayat Hall, Chivar, Chapora.


The championship was inaugurated by Surendra Sazu Govekar, Sarpanch of Anjuna Caisua Village Panchayat, in the presence of Panchayat members Dinesh Patil and Sudesh Parsekar, along with Paulo Killman Fernandes, Secretary of the Association of Goa Wushu, and other dignitaries.

The Village Panchayat of Anjuna Caisua extended full support and cooperation towards the successful conduct of the event, underlining its commitment to promoting martial arts and encouraging grassroots-level sports development in the region.

Winners of the championship were felicitated with medals and trophies by Delilah Lobo, MLA of the Siolim Constituency, Niyati Chimulkar, Vice President of the Association of Goa Wushu, along with the Sarpanch and Panchayat members. The competition was officiated by Ashok Mokashi and Sangamesh Layadagundi, National Judges (WAI) from the Karnataka Wushu Association, who served as official invitees for the event.

The championship saw enthusiastic participation from Wushu players across Goa in Sub-Junior, Junior and Senior categories for both boys and girls. Events were conducted in Taolu and Sanda disciplines across various weight categories. The Inter-College Wushu Competition was held separately, showcasing emerging talent from colleges across the state.

All participating athletes received participation certificates, while winners were awarded medals and certificates. Coaches and physical education teachers were presented with mementoes, and trophies were awarded to overall champion teams, marking the successful conclusion of the two-day sporting event.

Sports

Serbian ‘Fire and Ice’ Pair Sizzle at Gadre Gaspar Dias Open 2026

allycaralgoa

From Serbia’s cold winters to Goa’s sun-soaked courts, Milica Rakovic and Mladen Petrovic have found a rhythm that blends sport, lifestyle, and partnership. At the Gadre Gaspar Dias Open 2026, the Belgrade-based duo proved that age is just a number, winning the Masters 35+ mixed doubles title with flair and chemistry.

Both aged 55, the couple escapes the harsh Serbian winter each year to make Mandrem, Goa, their seasonal home. While Milica practices yoga and balances her professional life as an investment banker, Mladen—an interior and industrial designer—embraces the laid-back Goan spirit. Together, however, they transform into what many now call “fire and ice” on the tennis court.

Their triumph came at the recently concluded Masters segment of the tournament held at the historic Clube Tennis de Gaspar Dias, a venue steeped in over a century of tennis tradition.

“We tried to win this tournament for three years and practiced especially for it,” Milica shared. “Winning it on our third attempt makes it even more special, as this is a very high-quality competition.”

For Mladen, the victory is as much about gratitude as achievement. “Each trophy is a relief and a blessing until the next tournament. But the Gadre Gaspar Dias Open means a lot to us—it’s a serious club with a long tradition. And the hospitality we receive here, thousands of miles from home, is truly special.”

Their tennis journeys, however, were not without challenges. Growing up in an erstwhile socialist country, tennis was often seen as an elitist sport. “Collective sports like football and basketball were prioritised,” Mladen recalls. Ironically, his introduction to tennis came as a form of discipline. “I was a misbehaved kid, so my parents sent me to the nearest tennis club to keep me out of trouble. That’s how it all began.”

Milica’s journey began at age 12, when she was drawn to the elegance of players dressed in white near her home court. Introduced to the game by her uncle, she went on to earn a full tennis scholarship to study Economics in the United States and later at the University of Cambridge.

Meeting five years ago through a mutual friend, the couple bonded over tennis and soon began competing together. “We travel with our rackets everywhere,” says Milica. “From courts surrounded by pine trees in Sicily to banyan trees in our home-away-from-home in Anjuna, tennis connects us to places and people.”

On balancing competition and companionship, Milica laughs, “We’re super competitive on court and do have disagreements. But once we step off the court, everything is forgotten—except maybe how one should drive in India.”

Mladen sums it up best: “When she becomes fire, I try to be ice. When she’s ice, I become fire. That’s the secret.”