Tag: Women In Sports

Sports

Goa’s Arunima Bose Crosses English Channel with Indian Relay Team

Tanisha Cardozo

Written by Tanisha Cardozo

In an incredible display of endurance and determination, Arunima Bose, a swimmer and coach from Panaji, Goa, has successfully crossed the English Channel as part of a five-member Indian relay team named SwimLife Arrows.

The team completed the iconic 34-kilometre stretch from Dover (England) to Cap-Gris-Nez (France) in 15 hours and 58 minutes, braving freezing temperatures, strong tides, and unpredictable sea conditions.

The other members of the team included Avinash Thadani, Kiran Rajagopal, Madhur Gopal, and Yajna Somayaji. Together, the five swimmers conquered one of the world’s most demanding open water challenges, which also happens to be part of the prestigious Seven Oceans Challenge. This year’s swim also marked the 125th anniversary of the first solo English Channel swim by Captain Matthew Webb in 1875.

Arunima is more than just a swimmer. She is an Expressive Art Therapist and the lead coach at the Goa Open Water Swimming Club (GOWSC). She trains aspiring sea swimmers from across India and has helped grow a community of open water athletes.

“I’ve been swimming since I was a child,” says Arunima. “But being in Goa motivated me to explore the sea and open water challenges.” While the physical training was intense—consisting of swim drills and gym sessions—Arunima says that cold-water preparation was the real challenge. She regularly practiced ice bath immersions and strengthened her mental resilience through meditation and visualisation.

This achievement not only highlights Arunima’s personal determination but also places Goa and India on the map in the international open water swimming community.

With this milestone, Arunima Bose proves that with preparation, purpose, and passion, no ocean is too vast to conquer.

Sports

Goa’s Judoka Star Purti Lotlikar Joins SAI National Centre of Excellence in Bhopal

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Panaji, July 4, 2025: Goa continues to shine in India’s sporting landscape as Miss Purti Amey Lotlikar, a promising young judoka from Bandora, Ponda, earns a coveted spot at the Sports Authority of India (SAI) National Centre of Excellence (NCOE) in Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh.

This selection places her among India’s most promising young athletes preparing for future Olympic and international competitions, under the elite mentorship of the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, Government of India.

🎖️ From Local Roots to National Spotlight

Born on October 20, 2009, Purti has shown exceptional skill and discipline in the 40 kg weight category. Her journey began at age 11 under the coaching of Shri Aditya Kankonkar, an international judo player and mentor at Bandora Judo Center, Nageshi, Ponda.

Her remarkable progress led to medal-winning performances at:

  • 🥈 Khelo India Youth Games 2024 (Kerala)
  • 🥇 Cadet Nationals 2025 (Pune)

These achievements drew the attention of national selectors and secured her a spot among 45 top judokas from across India to train at SAI Bhopal.

👏 A Collective Effort

Purti’s success is the result of both talent and unwavering support. Her parents, Smt. Arya and Shri Amey Lotlikar, have stood by her since the beginning. The Goa Judo Association, led by President Girish Pednekar and Secretary Kripesh Vengurlekar, also played a key role in providing platforms for her development.

“Purti’s selection is a proud moment for all of Goa,” said Pednekar and Vengurlekar in a joint statement. “It shows that with the right training and support, Goan athletes can reach national and international levels.”

🌍 Eyes on the Global Stage

With access to top-tier facilities, coaching, and national-level exposure at SAI NCOE Bhopal, Purti is now on a path toward representing India on the global judo stage. Her selection is not only a personal triumph but also an inspiring milestone for the state of Goa and young sportswomen across India.

This is just the beginning for Purti Lotlikar—and all eyes will be on her as she climbs toward sporting greatness.

Sports

Shikha Pathak Becomes Asia’s First Female Head Referee in Fighting Ju-Jitsu

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Written by Tanisha Cardozo

Goa, July 3, 2025 — In a landmark achievement for Indian martial arts and female representation in international sports, Shikha Pathak, a resident of Vasco, Goa, has been appointed as the Head Referee for the Fighting Ju-Jitsu discipline across Asia by the Ju-Jitsu Asian Union (JJAU). With this appointment, Shikha not only becomes the first Indian but also the only woman from the continent to hold this prestigious post.

As Head Referee, Shikha will oversee the Referee Education Development Program across 44 Asian nations, spanning East, West, Central, and South-West Asia. This involves mentoring, technical training, and ensuring the standardization of officiating across all major Ju-Jitsu events in the region.

2024-25 has been a groundbreaking period for Shikha. She became the first Asian referee selected for the World Combat Games in Riyadh, serving among the elite International Technical Officials. She also became the first Indian referee to officiate at the Southeast Asian Games in Cambodia.

Her international credentials include:

  • Adult Ju-Jitsu World Championship in Mongolia
  • Youth World Championship in Kazakhstan
  • JJIF Grand Prix in Thailand
  • World Contact Cup
  • Multiple other global-level tournaments

She has also been officially selected to officiate at the upcoming World and Youth Ju-Jitsu Championships in Greece, continuing her impressive run at the sport’s highest level.

Shikha’s journey is more than just personal triumph — it’s a pathbreaking moment for Indian martial arts and women in sports leadership. Her dedication, technical excellence, and international recognition mark her as a role model for both athletes and officials.

Her rise also puts a spotlight on Goa’s growing presence in global sports, showcasing how regional talent is making waves internationally.

As she takes charge of shaping Ju-Jitsu officiating across an entire continent, Shikha Pathak’s story stands as a testament to determination, excellence, and trailblazing leadership. Her appointment will surely inspire a new wave of Indian referees—especially women—to dream big and go global.

Sports

Goa’s Women Lifters Set a New Benchmark: Certified as NSNIS Weightlifting Coaches 💪

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Goa celebrates a proud moment as two of its national-level weightlifters — Iram Irshad Khatri and Sakshi Vishwas Haldankar — have successfully completed the prestigious 6-week certificate course in weightlifting coaching by the Netaji Subhas National Institute of Sports (NSNIS), India’s premier Olympic sports coaching institute.

The course, held from 6 May to 2 July 2025, witnessed rigorous theoretical and practical training, and both athletes stood out for their commitment and performance. Notably, Iram Irshad Khatri made history by becoming Goa’s first female heavyweight national-level athlete in Olympic weightlifting and powerlifting to complete the certification. She also scored the highest among all participating female athletes in the course.

Both Iram and Sakshi are proud trainees of renowned coaches Tanuj Kinalkar and Lavu Govekar, under whom they train at the SAG Complex in Campal, Panaji.

These certifications mark a significant step forward not just for their personal sporting journeys, but for Goa’s grassroots sports development. Both athletes are now committed to nurturing future lifters, creating opportunities for young talent, and enhancing the state’s presence in national and Olympic-level weightlifting.

With their passion, expertise, and official coaching credentials, Iram and Sakshi are poised to become trailblazers in Goa’s weightlifting ecosystem.

Sports

Goa’s Sanjana Prabhugaonkar Wins Silver at 78th National Aquatic Championships in Odisha

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Bhubaneshwar, Odisha | 27 June 2025 – Goa’s rising swimming star, Miss Sanjana Prabhugaonkar, has once again made the state proud by winning a silver medal at the 78th Senior National Aquatic Championships 2025 held at the prestigious Aquatic Complex, Kalinga Stadium, Bhubaneshwar.

Organized by the Odisha State Swimming Association under the aegis of the Swimming Federation of India, the national-level event brought together the country’s top swimmers for four days of intense competition.

Silver for Goa in 50 Metres Backstroke

Sanjana clinched the silver medal in the highly competitive 50 Metres Backstroke event with an impressive timing of 30.68 seconds. She stood on the podium alongside some of India’s best:

  • 🥇 Gold: Vihita Nayana Loganathan (Karnataka) – 29.99 seconds
  • 🥈 Silver: Sanjana Prabhugaonkar (Goa) – 30.68 seconds
  • 🥉 Bronze: Soubrity Mondal (West Bengal) – 30.87 seconds

This performance highlights Sanjana’s consistency and growth as a competitive swimmer on the national stage.

A Proud Moment for Goa

Sanjana’s medal is not just a personal victory but a proud moment for Goan sports, especially in the field of aquatics, where young athletes from the state continue to shine despite limited infrastructure and training resources. Her success serves as an inspiration for aspiring swimmers in Goa and across India.

With her dedication, discipline, and determination, Sanjana has already built a reputation as one of Goa’s top swimming talents and continues to be a role model for youth in sports.