Chief Guest Dr. Geeta Nagvenkar, executive director of Sports Authority of Goa, along with dignitaries and committee members at the inauguration of the state pickleball championship.
PANAJI
The inaugural edition of the BPS Open Pickleball Championship 2025, celebrating one of the world’s fastest-growing sports, is currently underway at the prestigious BPS Sports Club in Margao.
The championship highlights the rising popularity of pickleball, a paddle sport combining elements of tennis, badminton, and table tennis, in Goa and also pays tribute to the BPS Sports Club’s legacy of promoting diverse sporting events.
A total of 123 pickleball players registered from across the state and signed up across 10 categories to compete in the three-day championship, organized in association with the Goa Pickleball Association and All India Pickleball Association (AIPA). The 10 categories include open ladies' singles, open ladies’ doubles, open men’s singles, open men’s doubles, 35+ men’s singles, 35+ men’s doubles, 50+ men’s singles, 50+ men’s doubles, open mixed doubles and 35+ mixed doubles.
The championship was inaugurated by chief guest Dr Geeta Nagvenkar, executive director of Sports Authority of Goa in the presence of Yogiraj Kamat, President of BPS Sports Club; Manguirish Kunde, Secretary of BPS Sports Club; Mayur Sawkar, President of the Goa Pickleball Association, along with other esteemed committee members of the BPS Sports Club.
“Sports provide us with examples of excellence, teamwork, resilience, and inspire us to reach beyond our limits. Academics and sports go hand-in-hand, both are incomplete without each other” said Dr. Geeta Nagvenkar, Executive Director of the Sports Authority of Goa.
Emphasising the event’s significance to Goa’s rapidly growing sports circuit, Yogiraj Kamat, President of BPS Sports Club, Margao, stated: “We are delighted to host the first major state pickleball championship in Goa, a landmark moment for both our club and the sport, and are thrilled with the number of athletes eager to showcase their sporting mettle”.
“Pickleball is rapidly gaining popularity, and this tournament reflects our dedication to fostering emerging sports in the state. We are excited to witness some thrilling matches,” added Manguirish Kunde, Secretary of BPS Sports Club.
The championship saw players in the ladies’ singles category battle it out, resulting in an exhilarating final match where Simran Bundela emerged victorious with a score of 33-6.
The open mixed doubles category saw 28 players participate, culminating in a thrilling clash between Nishad Shevde and Sweta Kantak against Cleon Barreto and Janice Dias, with Nishad Shevde and Sweta Kantak walking away with a winning score of 11-5, 10-12, 11-2.
The 35+ men’s singles category also saw 12 players participate, culminating in a thrilling clash between Nihaal Borkar and Noel Noronha , with Nihaal Borkar walking away with a winning score of 11-6, 11-5.
