Tag: GoaSports

Sports

Goa’s Madar Basappa Shines as India Legends Storm into Asian Legend Cup 2026 Final

Tanisha Cardozo

Goa’s Madar Basappa produced a match-defining performance with the ball as India Legends registered a thumping 104-run victory over Hong Kong in a league match of the Asian Legend Cup 2026 in Thailand, sealing their place in the tournament final. The win marked yet another dominant display by the Indian side in an impressive campaign.

After opting to bat first, India Legends piled up a massive 240 for 4 in their allotted 20 overs, powered by aggressive knocks from Bhanu Seth, Parminder and Amer Khan. The imposing total put Hong Kong under immense pressure from the outset, setting the stage for India’s bowlers to take control of the contest.

Madar Basappa emerged as the standout performer with the ball, delivering an exceptional spell of 3 wickets for just 17 runs in his four overs. Bowling with sharp control, variation and discipline, the Goan all-rounder struck at crucial moments to dismantle Hong Kong’s chase. He removed Kamal as the batter attempted to steady the innings, dismissed Ibrez soon after, and then produced a key moment by stumping Iftikhar to halt any hopes of a recovery. His economy rate of 3.75 reflected the pressure he consistently applied on the batters.

Hong Kong were eventually restricted to 136 in 20 overs, never able to recover from the damage inflicted by Basappa and the disciplined Indian bowling unit. While Bhanu Seth was named Player of the Match for his explosive batting performance, Madar Basappa’s spell stood out as one of the defining highlights of the encounter.

Basappa’s contribution brought pride to Goa as he showcased his talent on a major international stage. The all-rounder has also represented Gomanchal Warriors in the GVCL tournament and continues to strengthen his reputation as a dependable match-winner. India Legends have enjoyed a dominant run in the tournament, beginning with a six-wicket win over Sri Lanka, followed by a comprehensive 77-run victory against arch-rivals Pakistan and a close 12-run win over Bangladesh, underlining their strong form heading into the final of the Asian Legend Cup 2026.

Sports

Parth Deorukhakar, Unnathi Muralidhar Clinch Singles Titles at Gadre Gaspar Dias Open 2026

allycaralgoa

Panaji, February 2026: The prestigious Gadre Gaspar Dias Open 2026 concluded on a high note at the iconic Clube Tennis de Gaspar Dias courts, with young talents delivering standout performances across open and junior categories.

Nineteen-year-old Parth Deorukhakar clinched the Open Men’s Singles title, while Unnathi V. Muralidhar lifted the Open Women’s Singles crown on the final day of the tournament. Parth capped off a memorable campaign by also winning the Men’s Doubles title, completing an impressive double at the 11th edition of the tournament.

Parth displayed composure and grit in a high-quality men’s singles final, defeating Praneeth Venugopal in straight sets 7-6(2), 7-5. In the women’s singles final, Unnathi produced a spirited comeback to overcome Nidi S, winning 2-6, 6-4, 10-3 in a closely fought encounter.

Junior categories witnessed equally thrilling contests. Gargi Oak dominated the Girls Under-12 final, defeating Urvi Pai Panandiker 4-0, 4-0, before going on to secure a second title in the Girls Under-16 category, where she defeated Tvisha Sardesai 4-1, 4-1 to complete a double.

The Boys Under-16 final saw Arav Naik edge past Kyan Mavany in a nail-biting three-set match, winning 4-0, 2-4, 11-9. In the Boys Under-12 final, Kriyansh RM clinched the title after defeating Divyaraj Chouhan 4-1, (7)3-4, 10-7.

In the doubles events, Parth Deorukhakar and Arnav Bansode claimed the Men’s Doubles title, defeating Ashwin Narsinghani and Prathamesh Patil 7-6(4), 6-2. The Mixed Doubles crown was won by Trisha Vinod and Maaz Khan, who defeated Anupama Darade and Eshaan Khadeer 7-6(6), 6-0.

The winners were felicitated at a prize distribution ceremony by Sankalp Thali, Business Head, Gadre Premium Seafood; Edwin Menezes, former secretary and executive committee member of the host club; Vinesh Pickle, treasurer of the host club; Bulu Godinho, head of the tournament’s organising committee; and Sameer Kakodkar, President of the Goa State Tennis Association.

Jointly organised by Clube Tennis de Gaspar Dias and the Gadre Group, in association with the Goa State Tennis Association (GSTA), the tournament saw enthusiastic participation across age groups and continues to serve as a key competitive platform for emerging and established tennis players in Goa.

Sports

SCKFI Team Shines at TKAG State Tournament 2025–26

Tanisha Cardozo

Written by Tanisha Cardozo || Team Allycaral Sports Desk

The SCKFI team delivered an exceptional performance at the TKAG State Tournament held on January 10 and 11, 2025–26, demonstrating remarkable skill, discipline and sportsmanship throughout the competition. Competing against strong contenders from across the state, the team’s consistent excellence stood out at every stage of the tournament.

In a proud achievement, the SCKFI team earned the prestigious Champion Instructor title and was awarded a cheque of ₹10,000 in recognition of their outstanding performance. Adding to the success, the team also secured the 2nd Runners-Up trophy for achieving the highest number of gold medals at the tournament, further underlining their dominance and dedication to the sport.

This success was made possible under the expert guidance and leadership of Sensei Omkar Ghotne, Sensei Sai Ghotne and Sensei Tejan Sakhalkar. Their focused training methods, mentorship and unwavering support played a crucial role in shaping the team’s performance and competitive spirit.

The SCKFI team’s achievement at the TKAG State Tournament marks a significant milestone in their journey and serves as a source of inspiration for aspiring martial artists across the state. Their performance not only reflects sporting excellence but also highlights the importance of discipline, teamwork and strong leadership in achieving success.

Sports

9th State-Level Tribal Sports Festival to Be Held in Canacona from January 9–11, 2026

Tanisha Cardozo

Written by Tanisha Cardozo || Team Allycaral Sports Desk

The 9th edition of the State-Level Tribal Sports Festival will be organised from January 9 to 11, 2026, at Adarsh Gram, Amone, in Canacona. The festival is being conducted as part of the Government of India’s special policy for the upliftment of the Scheduled Tribes community under the Tribal Sub-Plan, with a strong focus on promoting sports and physical activity among tribal youth.

The event is being organised by the Sports Authority of Goa in collaboration with the Directorate of Sports and Youth Affairs, continuing an initiative that has been in place since 2011. Over the years, the Tribal Sports Festival has evolved into a significant platform for identifying and nurturing sporting talent within tribal communities across the state.

Previous editions of the festival have featured sports such as Volleyball, Kabaddi, Kho-Kho, Tennis Ball Cricket, Tug-of-War, Langadi, Lagori, Vithu Dandu and other traditional games, conducted under the technical guidance of respective State Sports Associations. The details of the upcoming festival were announced by Sports Minister Dr. Ramesh Tawadkar in the presence of Dr. Ajay Gaude, Director of DSYA and Executive Director of SAG, along with Dr. Vivek Pawar, Deputy Director, DSYA.

Each edition of the festival has seen participation from over 1,200 athletes representing all 12 talukas, supported by nearly 200 technical officials and sports teachers. The participation of both men and women has steadily increased over the years, highlighting the immense sporting potential present within Goa’s tribal population.

For the 2026 edition, around 1,648 players along with 240 officials and support staff are expected to take part. Competitions in Kabaddi, Kho-Kho, Volleyball and Tennis Ball Cricket will be held in both men’s and women’s categories, while traditional sports such as Tug-of-War, Langdi and Lagori will be played at the Canacona taluka level. Winners in major disciplines will receive cash prizes along with trophies and certificates, with first place awarded Rs. 25,000, second place Rs. 20,000 and third place Rs. 15,000.

Selection trials for taluka teams were conducted on December 28, 2025, across various venues under the supervision of APEOs, TSOs, DSYA, SAG coaches and sports associations. Adding to the scale of the event, an All India Marathon Race will also be organised during the festival, with participation expected to exceed 1,000 runners.

Sports

Goa Bowled Out for 164 on Day 1 of Cooch Behar Trophy Quarterfinal

Tanisha Cardozo

Written by Tanisha Cardozo || Team Allycaral Sports Desk

Goa were bundled out for 164 in their first innings on the opening day of the Cooch Behar Trophy Elite quarterfinal against Madhya Pradesh, played at the GCA ground in Sanguem on Thursday. After winning the toss and opting to field, Madhya Pradesh bowlers maintained disciplined lines and lengths throughout the day, putting Goa under sustained pressure in the four-day Under-19 encounter.

Goa’s innings lasted 82.5 overs, with only a handful of batters managing to offer resistance. The highlight of the innings was a vital fifth-wicket partnership of 76 runs between Dishank Misquin and Aradhya Goyal, which helped Goa recover from a precarious position. Misquin top-scored with a determined 44, while Goyal registered a composed half-century, scoring 50 with five well-timed boundaries. Opener Sarthak Bhike also contributed a steady 31 at the top, but the middle and lower order failed to capitalise on starts. For Madhya Pradesh, Yashbardhan Singh Chauhan emerged as the standout bowler, returning impressive figures of 3 for 34, well supported by Ayush Shukla and Prateek Shukla, who claimed two wickets each. At stumps on Day 1, Madhya Pradesh reached 12 for 1 in four overs, ending the day with a narrow advantage, setting up an evenly poised contest heading into the second day.