They beat Telangana in beach volleyball
Panaji: Goa’s duo of Rama Dhawaskar and Nitin Sawant clinched a hard-fought bronze medal in beach volleyball at the 38th National Games on Thursday, edging past Telangana in a thrilling three-set battle.
The contest began with Telangana drawing first blood, narrowly taking the opening set 22-20. However, Dhawaskar and Sawant responded with a spirited fightback, claiming the second set 21-19 to force a decider. In a nail-biting third set, the Goan pair held their nerve to seal a 15-13 victory and secure their podium finish.
Reflecting on the triumph, Dhawaskar said, “Winning bronze today is a special moment for us. After losing the first set, we focused on power and aggression, which helped us turn things around.”
Sawant echoed his teammate’s sentiments, emphasizing their ambition to elevate the sport in Goa. “We’re proud to bring this medal home. Our goal is to raise the standard of beach volleyball in Goa, and we hope to see better facilities and more youngsters getting inspired to go beyond what we’ve achieved,” he said.
Coach Surya Sawant lauded the team’s resilience, crediting their tactical adjustments. “The first set was challenging, but the boys adapted well. They became more aggressive, executed their blocks effectively, and maintained composure in the decider. Their performance in the final set was outstanding,” he concluded.
