Babu Gaonkar leads charge with three silver medals while eves secure bronze in team event
Babu Gaonkar
PANAJI
It was a momentous day for Goa as the state clinched four medals—three silver and one bronze—in the Modern Pentathlon event at the 38th National Games held in Uttarakhand on Saturday, showcasing the state’s prowess in multi-disciplinary sports.
Babu Gaonkar, the reigning gold medalist from the previous edition of the National Games, continued to make waves with an outstanding performance, earning three silver medals. Gaonkar first secured silver in the highly competitive Laser Run Individual Men's category, an event that tests athletes in both running and shooting accuracy, underlining his versatility and endurance.
Following this, Gaonkar teamed up with fellow athletes Harichandra Velip and Suraj Velip in the Laser Run Men's Team event, where their synchronized performance earned them another silver. The event required excellent teamwork and precision, and the trio delivered, securing their spot on the podium.
Gaonkar then partnered with Neha Gaunkar in the Laser Run Mixed Relay, which proved to be another successful outing for the duo. Their combined efforts ensured another silver finish, making it a stellar day for the athlete.
On the women’s front, Goa’s Laser Run Women’s Team made their mark with a remarkable performance. The team, consisting of Neha Gaunkar, Ankita Velip, and Vaishnavi Waddar, clinched a bronze medal in their event, showcasing great team coordination and skill under pressure. Their achievement further contributed to Goa’s medal tally at the Games.
With these achievements in Modern Pentathlon, Goa has accumulated a total of seven medals so far at the 38th National Games in Uttarakhand. This includes 2 golds, 3 silvers, and 2 bronzes, highlighting the state’s consistent performances across various disciplines. Goa is currently positioned at 24th place in the overall medal tally, and the state’s athletes continue to perform admirably in various events.
