Age no bar for Goa’s Masters, athletes win 11 gold medals

Panaji: Goa’s Masters athletes are refusing to slow down. At the recently held 46th National Masters Athletics Competition in Thiruvananthapuram, the state contingent put up a commendable performance, winning 11 gold, 5 silver, and 18 bronze medals.Goa fielded a strong 42-member contingent who competed in the age categories of 30 to 85, winning 34 medals in long-distance races, hurdles, relays, steeplechases, walking races, jumps, and throws.“The competition was not just a test of speed and strength but a celebration of the spirit of athletics,” said Goan Masters Athletics executive president and executive vice president of Masters Athletics Federation of India, Anita Rodrigues.

“Goa Masters Athletic Association secretary Yeshwant Verenkar. “The passion for sports truly has no age limit. More than a sporting event, this was a gathering of a vibrant community that proves fitness, camaraderie and ambition can thrive at every stage of life.

”Goa’s gold medal winners included Perpetua Fernandes, Ana Juliet Fernandes, Betty D'Silva (two gold each), Alzira Lacerda, Vrunda Verenkar, Navashri Sushma Naik, Venessa Rodrigues and Francisco X Fernandes.

The competition served as a selection ground for the upcoming World Masters Meet, scheduled for June in Daegu, South Korea.“With Goa steadily building a strong and enthusiastic contingent, new members are warmly encouraged to come forward, train together and represent the state with pride for next year’s championship,” the organisers said in a statement.The competition saw an impressive turnout of over 3,000 athletes from across 30 states, performing in a multitude of disciplines.The event was organised by Masters Athletics Federation of India (MAFI), which operates under the affiliations of Asian Masters Athletics and World Masters Athletics. Stan P, life president of World Masters Athletics was present for all five days of the event in Kerala.Medal winners: Perpetua Fernandes (2 gold, 1 bronze), Ana Juliet Fernandes (2 gold medals), Betty D'Silva (2 gold), Alzira Lacerda (gold, bronze), Vrunda Verenkar (gold, silver), Navashri Sushma Naik (gold), Venessa Rodrigues (gold, silver), Francisco X Fernandes (gold), Ramnath Dessai (silver, bronze), Conceicao Pereira (silver), Melinda Pereira (silver, 2 bronze), Maria Rosalia (4 bronze), Sufal Velip (bronze), Clarissa Costa (bronze), Divya Gawas (bronze), Celine Dias (bronze), Yeshwant Porob (bronze), Audrey Menezes (bronze), Martin Pires (bronze), Joseph Fernandes (bronze), Yeshwant Verenkar (bronze).