Taleigao: MES’s Vasant Joshi College of Arts and Commerce, Zuarinagar, captured their third consecutive title at the Goa University Inter-Collegiate Taekwondo Men’s Championship, held at the Dr. Shyama Prasad Mukherjee Stadium on July 22 and 23.
The Vasco-based college dominated the event, outclassing Don Bosco College, Panjim, which finished runners-up, while Rosary College, Navelim, secured third place.
Krish Ballikar of Shree Damodar College, Margao, was named the best taekwondo player of the championship after a standout performance, including a gold in the 80kg category.
Event-wise, MES secured multiple top podium finishes, with Prakash Rathod (54kg), Pranit Manerkar (58kg), and Rajvir Yadav (74kg) among the notable gold medallists. Don Bosco College countered with golds from Ajay Raj (63kg) and Aditya Patil (68kg).
The championship saw participation from leading colleges across Goa, highlighting the growing competitiveness in university-level martial arts.
Manasvi Kamat presided as chief guest, while Sagar Palaconda and Balachandra Jadar handed out the medals during the closing ceremony.
Medallists
Gold
Prakash Rathod – MES College
Pranit Manerkar – MES College
Ajay Raj – DBC, Panjim
Aditya Patil – DBC, Panjim
Rajvir Yadav – MES College
Krish Ballikar – Damodar College
Nakul Narvekar – Damodar College
Macken Rodrigues – Rosary College
Silver
Kartik Manikyala – Chowgule College
Nabin L. Put – DBC Panjim
Mohammad Afran – DBC Panjim
Anil Goudar – MES Vasco
Riyan Sayed – GC Borda
Mohammad Huzaifa – GC Borda
Biru Singh – Rosary College
Mohammad Ayaan – MES Vasco
Bronze
Vishal Bhosle – GC Khandola
Sufyan Shaikh – DBC Panjim
Saurav Seth – MES Vasco
Caden Estrocio – PCCE
Afrith M – Shree Damodar College
Bhuvan Purohit – Damodar College
Ashwin Hosmani – PCCE
Sweetu Kumar – GC Borda
Arif Nawar – Shree Damodar College
Abhijeet Rathod – Rosary College
Smith Dias – Rosary College
Rudra Juvatkar – Damodar College
Sudhanshu Yadav – PCCE
Nikhil Gauns – GEC Farmagudi
Vedant Bandodkar – PCCE
