PANJIM:
A Sunday afternoon got off to an exciting start as tennis fans witnessed the inaugural match of the annual Clube Tennis de Gaspar Dias Open 2017 in Miramar. With 133 entries from across 10 categories the next few days will offer tennis fans a treat as the tournament progresses. The 2017 edition of the tournament was inaugurated at the hands of Chief Guest Arjun Gadre, MD, Gadre Seafoods; in the presence of Yogesh Nadkarni, President, Clube Tennis de Gaspar Dias, Nathan Chowgule, President, Goa State Tennis Association and Rajendra Godinho, Sec
Speaking ahead of the inaugural match, said Arjun Gadre “Clube Tennis de Gaspar Dias is doing a phenomenal job hosting this tournament for the second consecutive year. I really believe that such kind of tournaments inspire kids to take up tennis as a career. We are privileged and honoured to associate ourselves with this tournament mainly because as a food Product Company believe in providing healthy food product options to the next generation”. Added Yogesh Nadkarni, President Clube Tennis de Gasper Dias Open “We are deli
ghted to be holding the second edition of the Club Gaspar Dias Tennis Open this year with a higher number of entries than our previous edition. This annual tournament is an opportunity to showcase the tennis skills of Goa’s young tennis talent. We are grateful for the support of the GSTA and Gadre Group for supporting the tournament.”
The annual fixture organized by Clube Tennis de Gaspar Dias, Goa’s first tennis club in partnership with Goa State Tennis Association (GSTA) and Gadre Premium Seafood saw matches played in Men’s Single and Under 12 Girls categories on the first day of the competition.
At the inaugural matches Vibhu Goyel defeated Akhil Shivvoikar (4-3, 4-1) while Simran Bundela won against Sayesha Taneja (3-4, 4-2, 4-3) to move in to the next round.
Day 2 of the tournament will see matches played in the Men’s Singles, Mixed Doubles, Under 12 Girls Ladies Singles, Under 12 Boys, Under 16 Girls, Veterans Singles and Under 16 Boys.
The tournament includes ten categories – Under 12 (Girls and Boys), Under 16 (Girls and Boys), Men’s Singles, Ladies Singles, Men’s Doubles, Mixed Doubles, Veteran Singles and Veteran Doubles. Prizes collectively amounting to Rs 50,000 will be awarded to winners in the various categories.
Spread across eight days, the Clube Tennis de Gaspar Dias Open will witness defending champion of the men’s category Tejas Shevde and defending champion of the women’s category Simran Khan will battle it out on the courts once again as tennis fans will be entertained to another edition. Matches will be scheduled between 7.00am and 10.00am in the morning and between 4.00pm and 10.00pm in the evening.
Over the past 80 years under the leadership of various individuals, the club has innovated and improved keeping in the mind the requirement of its members. The club offers facilities for playing badminton, squash, table tennis, billiards and tennis within its premises.
Morning’s results:
Men’s Veteran Singles- Jose Pereira defeated Ravindra Vengurleka (4-1, 4-1)
Men’s Doubles- Sandeep Verlekar and Suresh Kadan beat Mallick and Hazanka (4-2, 4-0)
Men’s Singles- Anupam Raja beat Sanjay Varak (1-4, 4-1, 4-3, 7-3)
Men’s Veterans Doubles- Bulu Godinho and Lucio defeated M.N. Chakravarthi and Ravindra Vengurlekar (4-2, 4-0)