For  Khar Gymkhana’s  ace swimmers Zara Bakshi (5 golds and a silver) and Nimesh Muley (4 golds, a silver and 2 bronze),   the final day of the  37^th Otters Club Open Swimming Championships, proved  to be continuation of yet another gold haul hunt, having  earlier, made a clean sweep in their respective  women’s and men’s events in the MIG CC event, held earlier this month.

Zara though topped  in five of their six events that she took part,  the existing marks eluded her  in all these events. Moreover, she finished second best behind  ace swimmer  Rujuta (Vridhawal Khade’s wife) in the women’s 50m free style as well. .

Seasoned Nimesh Muley was just unstoppable in the men’s section, topping  100m butterfly  stroke  (00:58.50 secs), 50m free style (00:22.64),  100m free style (00:51.17) and 200m free style (01:56.78 ).  But like Zara, he could not better any of the existing timings.  Incidentlly, Nimesh  finished second best to Ashwin Jaiswar ,of MGMO, who won the 200m individual medley event (02:11.24).  

However, MGMO’s Archit Morvekar’s two-record breaking efforts, viz. in 100m breast stroke (01:09.03) and 100m free style 00:53.18) in the boys under-215 events brought cheers to his Club. While Forest Club’s  Naishi Ruhil with three golds and two silvers excelled for her club.

The individual champions in various age groups were: MEN: Nimesh Muley (Khar Gym) – 4Golds+1 silver+2 bronze. WOMEM: Zara Bakshi (KG)- 5G+1S.

BOYS U-15:  Shwet Poojary (Forest Club) )- 1 NMR: 2G+3S+1S. Boys U-13: Kabir Kubhchandani (KG)- 3G+2S. Boys U-11: Rivan Kolahi (MGMO)- 4G+2S. Boys U-9: Daksh Shah (Ozone S.P) – 2G+1S+2B. Boys U–7: Shaurya Agnihotri  (CSMSS)- 3G+1S.

GIRLS U-15: Naishi Ruhil (Forest Club)- 3G+2S. Girls U-13: Saanvi Deshwal (Otters Club)) – 1 NMR: 5G+1S. Girls U-11: Heeva Pateil (Bom YMCA)- 3G+2B. Girls U-9: Pratyasha Guchhait (IIT, Bombay)- 4G+1B. Girls U-7: Pahel Shah (CSMSS)- 4G.

Opportunistic goal-scorer Ramshankar Sonkar was in sparkling form and notched up the first hat-trick of the tournament to power Don Bosco Academy to a fluent 6-0 win against DSMT Sports Club the a Men’s Open first round match of the Bandra Gymkhana Annual Open Rink Hockey Tournament 2024, played under floodlights at the Bandra Gymkhana tennis courts on Monday night.

Sonkar showed great anticipation and sharpness and pounced on every opportunity to have a strike at the rival goal. He scored the opening three goals before Aryan Pagare scored a brace and Kartik Banot struck one to round-off the winning target.

Earlier, Companeroes SC got the better of Republicans SC by a 4-1 margin. Oriston D. scored two goals while Sanket D. and Daniel D’Souza scored one each for the winners, while Republicans pulled one back through Godwin D.

In an absorbing and exciting Women’s Open encounter, Kangleipak Blue (Manipur) pulled off fighting 2-1 win against Duruelo Convent to advance to the second round. Leisangthem Natali and Ningombam Kamla were bang on target for the Maniput outfit while Duruelo Convent scored through Savi Sakpal.

Results – Girls – U-14: St. Theresa beat Don Bosco 5-0.

Duruelo Convent beat SBO Association 5-0.

Carmel of St. Joseph beat New Bombay City School 3-1.

Boy’s U-14: Children Academy 7 beat St. Stanislaus ‘B’ 7-2.

Don Bosco beat Antonio DaSilva 9-0.

Women Open:  Kangleipak Blue (Manipur) 2 (Leisangthem Natali, Ningombam Kamla) beat Duruelo Convent 1 (Savi Sakpal).

Men Open: Companeroes SC 4 (Oriston D. 2, Sanket D., Daniel D’Souza) beat Bombay Republicans SC 1 (Godwin D.).

Don Bosco Academy 6 (Ramshankar Sonkar 3, Aryan Pagare 2, Kartik Banot) beat DSMT Sports Club 0.

Navi Mumbai Sports Association (NMSA) maintained their supremacy as they were crowned Elite Division champions in the Thane Football Association (TFA) League 2023-2024.

Assured of winning their Elite Division title for the fourth successive year, NMSA fielded their reserve players and suffered a 1-3 defeat against Kukri XI FC in the concluding league match.

NMSA who were unbeaten till this first loss, finished at the top with an unassailable 25 points in the six-team double leg. They managed to record eight wins and one draw from the 10 matches played.

Kukri XI finished a distant second position with 19 points from six wins, one draw and three defeats and had to settle for the runners-up prize.

S.P. Football Academy completed their league with a tally of 16 points from five victories, one draw and four losses and clinched the third place prize.

Thane City FC (15 points), Seawoods FC (6 points) and Pro Team (3 points) finished in fourth, fifth and sixth positions respectively.

Final standings – Elite Div: 1. Navi Mumbai SA (25 points), 2. Kukri XI FC (19 points), 3. S.P. Football Academy (16 points), 4. Thane City FC (15 points), 5. Seawoods FC (6 points), 6. Pro Team (3 points).

Western Railway produced a good combined performance and handed Income Tax a 3-0 defeat in a Premier Division (Corporate) match of the Mumbai Football Association (MFA) League 2023-2024 and played at the St. Pius College ground, Goregaon, on Tuesday.

Leading Western Railway’s charge to victory was Somit PT who showed good finishing and scored two goals, one in each half. Mervin Stephen scored the other goal to complete the railwaymen’s win.

Meanwhile, South Mumbai United snatched a fighting 2-1 win against Boxer FC in a keenly contested First Division match, played at the Neville D’Souza ground, Bandra. South Mumbai United scored their goals through the efforts of strikers Rajveer Kesari and Ranvir Malik, while Boxer FC reduced their deficit through Manav Salvi strike.

In a Second Division contest, Jupiter SC eked out a narrow 1-0 win against Carmelites SC to collect the full three points. Striker Pradnesh Kadam struck the decisive winning goal to seal the win.

Results – Second Div: Jupiter SC 1 (Pradnesh Kadam) beat Carmelites SC 0.

First Div: South Mumbai United 2 (Rajveer Kesari, Ranvir Malik) beat Boxer FC 1 (Manav Salvi).

Premier Div (Corporate): Western Railway 3 (Somit PT 2, Mervin Stephen) beat Income Tax 0.

Hosts pride the Deshwal sisters – Saanvi and Anvi –  put up splendid in the 37^th  Otters  Club’s Open Swim Gala, held (April 21) at their Club’s swimming pool yesterday. While Sanvi, who clinched  overall five golds and one silver was the lone girl record-breaker in the 50m breast stroke   girls under-13 section, clocking 01:13.73 seconds, as she eclipsed the  2018’s record of Vedika Amin (01:13.75 secs), Anvi followed her home with a gold in 100m free style and  3 silvers and two bronze.

Archit Morvekar , of MGMO, rewrote 100m free style and 100m breast strokes records in the boys under-15 categories. Overall Archit, ended with three golds  and two silvers apart from setting two new marks. And on way  to setting new marks, he shattered Khar Gymkhana’s Neel Roy’s 2016 timing of  00:53.46 secs  with the new timing of 00:53.18 secs. in the free style and then overcame  Otters Dolphin’s Srish Mulik’s  2019  mark (01:09.50 ) by clocking 01:09.02 secs.

 Forest Club’s Shwet Poojary, was the other record-breaker as he rewrote Otter’s Armaan Sikka (00:59.92) with a timng of 0:59,52secs in the boys under-15 100m breast stroke event.Incidentally, Shwet also bagged gold in the 200m individual medley, pushing Archit to second place.

The organizers of this swimming Gala, got a boosted  with the active support of  sponsors of Mansons Foundations,  a non-government  organization having  mission to provide basic sports facilities, which include healthcare and educational facilities to the marginalized section of the Society.

Indian ace billiards players Sourav Kothari and Dhurv Sitwala won the silver and bronze medals respectively in the World Matchplay Billiards championship held at Carlow, Ireland on Sunday.

The Kolkata-based Kothari tripped at the final hurdle, losing rather tamely to Englishman David Causier 2-8 in the best-of-15-frame, 100up final.

Earlier in the semi-finals, India No. 2 Kothari, defeated Indian National champion and India No. 1 Sitwala 7-3 in the best-of-13-frame contest. Causier tamed countryman Martin Goodwill 7-2 to book his place in the final.

In the quarter-finals, the left-handed Mumbai-based Sitwala brushed aside the challenge from England’s fancied cueist Robert Hall 6-4 and Kothari sidelined reigning World champion Peter Gilchrist recording a 6-4 win to set up an all-Indian semi-final encounter.

In the other last eight matches, Causier was in great form and blanked host country’s Aidan Murray 6-0, while Goodwill prevailed over Peter Sheehan 6-2.

Results – Quarter-finals: Sourav Kothari beat Peter Gilchrist 6-4; Dhruv Sitwala beat Robert Hall 6-4; David Causier beat Aidan Murray 6-0; Martin Goodwill beat Peter Sheehan 6-2.

Semi-finals: Sourav Kothari beat Dhruv Sitwala 7-3; David Causier beat Martin Goodwill 7-2.

Final: David Causier beat Sourav Kothari 8-2.

A determined Indian Navy did well to snatch a tight 1-0 win against a spirited Central Bank of India in a hard-fought Premier Division match of the Mumbai Football Association (MFA) League 2023-2024 and played at the St. Pius College ground, Goregaon, on Monday.

Central Bank of India put up a good fighting performance against the fitter and disciplined Navy outfit and were unable to convert the chances that came their way.

On the other hand, Indian Navy showed good understanding capitalized on the chance that came their way to score the lone goal through their opportunistic striker Pintu Mahata in the 43^rd minute and go into the break with a 1-0 advantage.

After the change of ends, both teams tried hard to score a goal, but all their efforts went in vain.

In Second Division encounters, Ground Mechanix SA riding on the double strikes from (Karan Kapoor blanked Vision Rescue FC by a clear 3-0 margin and played at the Neville D’Souza ground, Bandra, on Monday. After Shafi Shahid scored an early goal to give Ground Mechanix a sixth minute lead Kapoor struck twice in the second half to complete the winning tally.

In another match of the same division, Ruffians FC got the better of 7070 FC by a narrow 1-0 margin. Shannon Ferrao struck the decisive winning goal to seal Ruffians victory.

Results – Second Div: Ruffians FC 1 (Shannon Ferrao) beat 7070 FC 0.

Ground Mechanix SA 3 (Karan Kapoor 2, Shafi Shahid) beat Vision Rescue FC 0.

Premier Div: Indian Navy 1 (Pintu Mahata) beat Central Bank of India 0.

All-rounder Ajay Jaiswal hogged the spotlight as he created a record of sorts, by smashing triple century knock of 306 runs and then picked five wickets for 56 runs in guiding Bhiwandi Taluka Cricket Association to a mammoth 293-run victory against Bombay Wanderers Cricket Club in a first round Group ‘A’ match of the Dr. H.D. Kanga Knockout Cricket Tournament 2024 and played at the Parsee Cyclist ground, Azad Maidan on Sunday.

Batting first, Bhiwandi Taluka amassed a humongous total of 440 all out in 44.1 overs. Jaiswal’s marathon innings came from just 148 balls and was studded with 44 cracks to the boundary ropes and 10 powerful sixes.  Premchand Rajbhar 29 runs and Sujal Salvi 25 runs contributed to the scoreboard. Wanderers bowlers Akshay Mhatre 2 for 45, Raj Waingankar 2 for 59 and Mehank Dhanawade 2 for 60 claimed the wickets.

Later, Bombay Wanderers were unable to put up much of a fight and were dismissed 147 runs in 26.3 overs. All-rounder Raj Waingankar scored an unbeaten 47 runs and Sagar Kamble chipped in with 27 runs. Jaiswal did most of the damage by taking five wickets, while Pranay Shinde 2 for 26 and Vijay Mahtre 2 for 38 played perfect supporting roles.

Brief scores: Bhiwandi Taluka 440 all out, 44.1 overs (Ajay Jaiswal 306 (148-balls, 44×4,10×6), Premchand Rajbhar 29, Sujal Salvi 25; Akshay Mhatre 2/45, Raj Waingankar 2/59, Mehank Dhanawade 2/60) beat Bombay Wanderers 147 all out, 26.3 overs (Raj Waingankar 47*, Sagar Kamble 27; Ajay Jaiswal 5/56, Pranay Shinde 2/26, Vijay Mahtre 2/38).

The defending champions Mumbai Customs and the runners-up Champions Training Centre (CTC) have been given direct entry into the quarter-finals of the men’s competition in this year’s Bandra Gymkhana Annual Open Rink Hockey Tournament 2024, The tournament, kicks off on Monday, April 22nd.

The reigning champions Central Railway and the Steel Plant Sports Board, who were the losing finalists, will also begin their campaign from the quarter-final stage in the women’s draw.

Apart from the men’s and women’s events, the tournament will also feature competitions for Boys’ under-14 and Girls’ under-14 categories. A total of 18 teams will be competing for the top honours in Men’s draw, while 10 teams will battle it out in the Women’s event. In the junior competition, eight boys’ teams and 10 girls’ teams have confirmed their participation.

This year, Kangleipak from Manipur will be participating in the tournament. One men’s team and two women’s teams will be showcasing their skills.

The matches will be played under floodlights at the Bandra Gymkhana tennis courts in a direct knockout format, with the grand finals scheduled for April 27th.

The winners and runners-up in the men’s and women’s categories will receive trophies and cash prizes, while the junior boys and girls will be awarded trophies. Individual awards will also be presented in all four categories.

The stage is set for an exciting showcase of talent and teamwork as The Bandra Gymkhana gears up to host another thrilling Rink Hockey tournament.

Participating teams – Men Open: Mumbai Customs (Red), CTC ‘A’, Companeroes SC, Republicans SC, Don Bosco Academy, DSMT, Union Bank of India, Sunday Sultans, CTC ‘B’, Ave Maria SC, Central Railway, Mumbai Customs (White), Hockey Navi Mumbai, Mumbai Ports Authority, United Bandra, Savio Hockey Academy, India Rush SC, Antonian Warriors and  Kangleipak (Manipur).

Women Open: Central Railway, Steel Plant Sports Board, Sea View SC, Mansi Foundation, Savio Hockey Academy, Durello Convent, Kangleipak Blue (Manipur), Western Railway, Don Bosco Academy, Kangleipak White (Manipur), India Rush SC and Warriors SC.

Virdhawal Khade ,from Khar Gymkhana, a former national record holder in 50m, 100 and 200m freestyle events, has been outstanding swimmer for the country, having represented in Asian Games (2018) and Commonwealth Games  (2008) in competitions for over a decade and that he showed in ample measures that he is  still cut above the rest while clinching double golds in the 37^th  Otters  Club’s Open Swim Gala, held at their Club’s swimming pool yesterday. He triumphed in the 50m Free Style (00:25.78 secs) as well as 50m Breast stroke(00: 34.03 secs)  events, leaving the rest of the  field high and dry. Incidentally, Virdhawal was awarded Arjun Award in 2011.

While the corresponding events in the women’s section was dominated by Himanta Barbara ,of RFC, striking golds in the 50m Free Style and 50m Breast strokes comprehensively.

In the boys under-11 section, Rivan Kolahi ,of MGMO  swept the pool with four golds and two silvers While Heeva Patel of Bombay  YMCA , with three golds and two silver took the honours in the girls category.

The following were the age group champions:

 GIRLS: Under-11: Heeva Patel (YMCA) – 3 golds+2 silvers. Under-9: Pratyasha Guchhait (IIT, Bombay) – 4 golds+1 bronze.  Under-7:  Pahel Shah (CSMSS) – 4 golds.

BOYS: Under-11: Rivan Kolahi (MGMO)-   4 golds+2 silvers. Under-9: Daksh Shah (Ozone) -2 golds+2 silvers +1 bronze. 1 bronze.  Under-7:  Shaurya Agnihotri (CSMSS)- 3 golds + 1 silver.

The organizers of this two-day event, received huge response from both city and suburbs clubs in  various age groups,  they got a boosted  with the active support of  sponsors of Mansons Foundations. , a non-government  organization having  mission to provide basic sports facilities, which include healthcare and educational facilities to the marginalized section of the Society.