Goa Masters excel at home, win team c’ship with 74 medals

Panaji: Goan athletes kept up the momentum on the concluding day to emerge as team champions with 74 medals at the 3rd National Women Masters Athletics Championship, organised by Goa Masters Athletic Association, at Athletics Stadium, Santa Cruz, on Sunday.

Goa’s medal tally included 29 gold, 25 silver and 20 bronze medals. The hosts’ total surpassed the tally of a strong Maharashtra side, which finished with 53 medals in its kitty. It included 27 gold medals, 14 silver and 12 bronze. Tamil Nadu was forced to settle for the third spot with 66 medals.

Goa’s surge to the top was accelerated by multiple gold-medal winning efforts from four athletes, who won gold medals in all three individual categories that they took part. On the first day, it was Betty Sebastian D’Silva who picked up three gold medals in the 60+ age category. She was followed by Devi Gaonkar (50+, discus throw, javelin throw, shot put), Melida Pereira (75+, 100m, 200m, 400m runs) and the oldest participant, Maria Imelda de Sousa (90+ shot put, 100m, javelin throw).

Ritinha Pereira also won three individual medals for Goa. The former footballer topped in high jump and triple jump but had to settle for silver in long jump, denying her a memorable hat-trick of golds.

Three Goan athletes – Devi, Betty and Maria Imelda– were adjudged individual champions in their respective age-groups.

Goan athletes had a championship to remember as they won medals in most categories. Even in relays, Goa were in fine form winning medals. Nowhere was this domination more evident than the 45+ age group as the hosts’ quartet won gold in both 4x100m and 4x400m relays.

There were also six silver medals and one bronze in other relay categories. The 40+ Goa group won silver in 4x100m and 4x400m relays.

INDIVIDUAL CHAMPIONS: Sanaya George (30+, Maharashtra), Aysha Bilimoria (35+, Maharashtra), Sarika Kumari (40+, Delhi), Pratima Sonni (45+, Maharashtra), Devi Gaonkar (50+, Goa), Archana Rajput (55+, Uttar Pradesh), Betty D'Silva (60+, Goa), Krishna (65+, Delhi), Ponnamma Poovanna (70+, Karnataka), Vidula P Bhatt (75+, Gujarat), Thodam Akasini Devi (80+, Manipur), Maria Imelda de Sousa (90+, Goa)