Margao, February 17 – Margao-based tennis veteran Nishad Shevde stormed into the quarterfinals of the ongoing Baale BPS Open 2025 tennis tournament defeating Sujit Sahoo in a one-sided pre-quarterfinal match in the open men’s singles category, held at the iconic B.P.S. Sports Club courts in Margao.
Shevde, a runner-up in the tournament’s maiden edition last year, trounced Sujit 6-0, while Akhil Shirwaikar defeated Dmitry Smirnov 6-4 in another pre-quarterfinal encounter 6-4.
The second edition of the Baale BPS Open 2025, supported by the Goa State Tennis Association and the Baale Resort Goa, is currently underway at the B.P.S Sports Club, Margao. The tournament has received more than 200 registrations for participation.
In the tournament’s other matches in the 55+ men’s singles category, Manoj P easily overcame a challenge from Aman Prabhu Gaonkar 6-1, while Jude Cardozo made light work of his opponent Ashok Kumar Borkar 6-0 to reach the semifinals. In other matches in the same category, Noel Noronha defeated Artemio 6-3 to reach the quarterfinals.
In the 45+ men’s singles category, Manoj P and Sandeep Menon did not break a sweat in their respective matches against Brian Fernandes and Anup Sardesai 6-0, while Caetano Fernandes defeated Naveen Cardoza 6-1.
Nishad Shevde, a passionate tennis coach and player, is making a significant impact on Goa’s sports scene. With his SS Tennis Academy, he’s nurturing young talent and promoting a love for tennis among people of all ages.
Nishad’s love affair with tennis began when his father introduced him to the sport. He was fascinated by the game and spent hours watching tennis matches on TV, especially Wimbledon. As he grew older, Nishad’s passion for tennis only intensified, and he began participating in local tournaments.
Nishad believes in teaching proper techniques while ensuring his students have fun playing the game. He incorporates fitness into their training to prepare them for advanced levels. His approach is tailored to different age groups and skill levels, from young kids to recreational and competitive players.
Several students from SS Tennis Academy have achieved notable success, including:
Ethan de Ataide, winner of the Gadre Gaspar Open U-12 and Baale BPS Open U-10
Vivaan Agrawal, runner-up in the Panjim Gymkhana U-14
Adianta Devaraya and Kaivalya Devaraya, who are playing in All India Tennis Association (AITA) tournaments
Shaurya Verlekar, runner-up in the Gadre Gaspar Open U-12
Tvisha Sardesai, runner-up in the Baale BPS Open and one of the top female players in Goa
Nishad is also passionate about other sports, including football, cricket, and table tennis. He believes that passion and perseverance are essential for balancing multiple interests and pursuits. Nishad has represented Goa in table tennis tournaments and has won several titles.
Nishad is an advocate for pickleball, having introduced the sport in Goa. He sees immense potential for emerging sports like pickleball and believes they will play a significant role in shaping India’s sports landscape. Nishad has competed in national-level pickleball tournaments and has won the prestigious Triple Crown.
Nishad’s message to everyone is: “Don’t be limited in a world full of limitless opportunities.” He believes that with hard work, dedication, and passion, anyone can achieve their goals.
Nishad Shevde is a tennis coach and player from Goa. He is the founder of SS Tennis Academy and has represented Goa in various tennis tournaments. Nishad is also passionate about other sports, including football, cricket, and table tennis.
Panaji, January 2025 – Margao-based Nihaal Borkar and Nishad Shevde made pickleball history in Goa, winning trebles in the state’s first pickleball state championship held recently at the BPS Club in Margao.
Nihaal won triple crowns by pairing up with Ruta Borker to defeat Ehrlick De Ataide and Natasha Viegas De Ataide in the 35+ mixed doubles category, which saw nine pairs in contention. Nihaal and Ruta lost the first set 10-12, before winning two sets on the trot, 11-7, 11-9, to win the title. Of the nine teams in the fray in the men’s 35+ doubles category, the summit clash was won by Akhil Lawande and Nihaal Borkar, who defeated Chinmay Kantak and Ehrlick De Ataide 11-6, 11-6. The 35+ men’s singles category saw 11 players in the fray, with Nihaal Borkar defeating Noel Noronha 11-6, 11-5 in two straight sets in the final.
Nishad Shevde, the other participant to win the treble, won the open men’s singles title, which saw the participation of 22 players. He defeated Cleon Barreto 11-9, 11-3 in the category’s final match. Nishad and Sweta Kantak also went on to win the finals of the open mixed doubles with a score of 11-5,10-12, 11-2. Twenty one teams participated in the men’s open doubles category, with the pairing of Nishad Shevde and Ehrlick De Ataide defeating their opponents 11-8, 11-3.
Goa’s tennis ace Simran Bundela won the ladies singles category based on cumulative points against her three opponents who had registered to participate in the segment. Simran won the title on the back of 33 points scored and losing six. The scores for the remaining participants were Tvisha Sardesai (26-13), Solania (14-26) and Sumangali (5-33).
The recently concluded three-day championship, the first such event in the state featuring the world’s fastest-growing paddle sport of pickleball, was organised at the BPS Club in association with the Goa Pickleball Association and All India Pickleball Association (AIPA). The debut edition of the championship, which featured 10 categories, witnessed a huge turnout with 123 players across genders and age groups registering to participate in the event. The winners of all 10 categories shared a winning purse of Rs.1 lakh approximately.
The men’s 50+ doubles category witnessed the participation of nine teams, culminating in a thrilling clash between Lincoln Furtado and Willy Jaques against Clarence Noronha and Noel Noronha, with Clarence and Noel winning the final match 11-3, 7-11, 11-8.
The men’s singles 50+ category saw seven players in the ring, with Noel Noronha defeating Willy Jacques 11-7, 11-6 in the final.
The open ladies doubles category saw four teams participate with Audrey Menezes and Melanie Chowgule emerging victorious and clinching the title.
