Caculo Chargers emerged champions of the Pro Badminton League Team Championship event organised by Panjim Badminton Club in association with the Sports Authority of Goa. In the Finals held at Indoor Stadium, Campal-Panaji, the Chargers edged out hot favourites Fomento Flamingos 3-2 in a pulsating nail-biting encounter.
Former State Champion Pankaj Naik combined brilliantly with All India Civil Services bronze Medallist Marina to win the Mixed Singles event with comfortable ease. They beat Navneet Nasnodkar and Malati Dani 21-11, 21-16. In the Under 19 Boys Doubles event, Aniket Shenai and Saish Salelkar looked down and out after losing the first set but came back strongly to beat Krishnaraj Gauns and Pranav Silimkhan 13-21, 21-18, 21-15 in three tight sets, giving a commanding 2-0 lead to the Chargers. But the Fomentos, led by Goa's top shuttler Floyd Araujo won the next two events, winning their Mens Doubles and Singles events to tie the scores at 2 games each. In the Mens Doubles, top seeds Floyd Araujo and Navneet Nasnodkar smashed their way to a comfortable 21-10, 21-15 win over Pankaj Naik and Krushnan Naik. In the Singles event, it was virtually a stroll in the park for Floyd as he eased his way past Manoj Humraskar, winning 21-8, 21-10. The decisive Veterans 45 plus doubles event was expected to be a close contest but Santosh Prabhudesai and Dr R Borkar representing Fomentos succumbed quite meekly to Goa's top Veterans pairing of P.K. Gupta and Tanaji Sawant, losing 21-17, 21-11 to hand over the title to the Chargers. The Champions Caculo Chargers were awarded a glittering trophy and a Cash Prize of Rs 25,000/-. Runners-up Fomento Flamingos, and the two semi-finalists Models Eagles and Fallary Warriors were Awarded trophies and Cash Prizes of Rs 15,000/- and 7500/- each respectively. Medals were awarded to all Individual Team Members of the Champions and Runners-up Team. All players received memntos and participation money sponsored by respective the Team owners. Superitendant of Police Shri Bosco George was the Chief Guest and distributed the prizes in the presence of Goa Badminton Association President Mr. Richard De Souza, GBA Secretary Narahar Thakur, PBC President Sarfraz Sheikh, SAG Coach Roy Athiade and others. PBC Secretary Sandeep Heble welcomed and proposed the vote of thanks. Senior Club member Shri Tukaram Kalangutkar was felicitated on the occasion in recognition of his contibutions towards Badminton in Goa. Photograph attached herewith: The Victorious Caculo Chargers Team led by Captain Pankaj Naik, Team Members Krushnan Naik, Manoj Humraskar, Marina, Aniket Shenai, Saish Salekar, P.K. Gupta, Tanaji Sawant and Sanjay Pai(Team Manager) with Chief Guest Bosco George(SP, Police), PBC President Sarfraz Sheikh, PBC Secretary Sandeep Heble, GBA President Richard De Souza, GBA Secretary Narahar Thakur and others. yours sincerely Sandeep Heble Secretary, Panjim Badminton Club 9326129171
