Goa win six of eight gold medals in sepak takraw at National Games

Panaji: Goa were unstoppable in sepak takraw as the hosts won six of the eight gold medals on offer in the National Games event at Multipurpose Stadium, Fatorda, on Friday.
Comprising almost entirely of outstation players, mostly northeast, Goa were the most dominant side as the men won all four gold medals on offer. It included triumphs in double, quad, team and regu.The women too were better than all other teams, except Manipur, who defeated them in the team final.
Goa women won gold in the double and quad, while bowing out in the semifinals of the regu where the hosts lost to Nagaland in straight sets to settle for bronze.
“Today is a golden day for Goa,” said Chandrakant Kavlekar, president of Goa Sepak Takraw Association and chairman of Sepak Takraw Federation of India. “Once when I spoke about this game in the state assembly session, many people laughed at me. I had said one day you will all know the importance of sepak takraw. My words came true today.”
The six gold medals, silver and bronze is the biggest haul by any Goan team at the National Games. But the triumph is thanks to the efforts of outstation players, already big names in the sport.
In the men’s section, Harischandra Seram, Seitaram Thokchom, Rishikant Elangbam, Jitsehwor Gurumayum, Sanjeck Waikhom, Akash Yumnam, Jotin Ngathem, Malemnganba Sorokhaibam and Henry Wahengbam are all international players.
The women’s team too has imported internationals with Manisha Devidas and Shanti Devi representing India.
The presence of the top outstation players helped Goa outwit their rivals.
Akash Yumnam was undoubtedly the big star in the men’s section as his attacking skills set Goa apart. Whenever the opponents enjoyed a slight advantage, Akash raised his game and helped turn the match on its head.
The only setback for Goa came in the women’s team event, expectedly at the hands of Manipur who had three players – Chaoba Devi, Maipak Devi and Priya Devi – who were part of the Indian women's regu team that won the bronze at the Asian Games 2023 in China.
Final results: Men’s double: Goa bt Kerala 21- 13, 22- 20; men’s quad: Goa bt Delhi 21-14, 17-21, 21-17; women’s quad: Goa bt Haryana 21-11, 23-21; Men’s team: Goa bt Manipur 21-15, 21-18; 14-21, 16-21 and 21-14, 21-12; Men’s regu: Goa bt Manipur 21-15, 21-17; women’s double: Goa bt Andhra Pradesh 21-17, 21-16; women’s team: Manipur bt Goa 21-14, 21-10 and 21-9, 21-3