We will support State judo players for their all-round development : Young Entrepreneur Punit Balan
Yavatmal’s Vedant Pardhi, Naman Kala (Thane), Omkar Kakad (Sambhaji Nagar), Yuvraj Chowdhari (Nagpur), Sanskar Lokare (Solapur), Arjun Chodankar (Mumbai), Shouryajit Mali (Sangli) and Nagesh Lute (Nanded) give a sterling performance in their respective weight categories and win Gold Medals in the State-level Cadet and Junior Judo Tournament
Pune: Noted Young Entrepreneur and Punit Balan Group (PBG) President Punit Balan has extended his whole-hearted support to meritorious sportspersons from Maharashtra. He said, “We will support National Judo Competition medal winners particularly for their success in international competitions by providing them higher training and facilities and generally for their all-round development.”
Balan mentioned Maharashtra’s Shraddha Chopade, who won Gold Medal in the National Seniors Competition recently, and said, “We wish that talented judo athletes from the State should not lag behind just for a lack of facilities and higher training. Parents should also keep their children away from mobile phones and send them to play on the playground so that sponsors like us can encourage talent in them.”
Balan appreciated efforts made by the State Judo Association. He said, “Judo teaches you how to defend yourself. The Association’s efforts to make it popular are laudable. The Maharashtra Judo Association has been tirelessly working to make the youth in the State understand the importance of physical fitness through Judo and the 5-pc quota in government jobs for sportspersons. Therefore, many players of the Association are winning medals at the national level and joining the government service.
The 51st State-Level Cadet and Junior Judo Tournament was inaugurated at the Shiv Chhatrapati Sports Complex in Balewadi-Mahalunge on Tuesday (January 6). The competition will be held till January 8.
Maharashtra Judo Association President Dhananjay Bhosale, General Secretary Shailesh Tilak, Treasurer Ravindra Metkar, Secretary (TC) Datta Aphale, other office-bearers Shekhar Sakhare, Vishwas Joshi, Mukund Dange and Tournament Inspector Anil Sankpal were present.
Nilesh Goythale conducted the programme while Shailesh Tilak made the introductory speech. Datta Aphale proposed a vote of thanks.
Dhanajay Bhosale listed the Association’s expectations from the Chief Guest and players. The winners in this tournament will represent the State in the National Judo Tournament. As many as 275 young players from 26 districts of the State will participate in this tournament. In all, 25 umpires and managers and Association office-bearers have gathered at the Balewadi Sports Complex.
The Chief Tournament Officer is SAI Trainer Sushil Gaikwad (Amravati). Tushal Sangle (Pune) and Mangesh Bhosale (Thane) will help Gaikwad. Shailesh Deshpande has been appointed as the Jury while Darshana Lakhani is the Head of Technical aspects of the tournament. The girls’ competition is held on Wednesday.
Results of boys’ competitions are given below:
Under 30-kg – Gold: Vedant Pardhi (Yavatmal), Silver: Shubham Bhandari (Thane), Bronze: Prince Sonawane (Latur) and Viraj Bhagat (Nashik)
Under 35-kg – Gold: Naman Kala (Thane), Silver: Ajinkya Ranavade (PDJA), Bronze: Chaitan Bhagat (Nashik) and Vishwajit Ghadge (Sangli)
Under 40-kg – Gold: Omkar Kakad (Sambhaji Nagar), Silver: Pratik Vyavahare (SAI), Bronze: Pranav Khairnar (Amravati) and Samarth Raut (PGA)
Under 45-kg – Gold: Yuvraj Chowdhari (Nagpur), Silver: Faizan Shaikh (Yavatmal), Bronze: Arjun Narvade (Sambhaji Nagar) and Kush Pandit (Thane)
Under 50-kg – Gold: Sanskar Lokar (Solapur), Silver: Kushan Trivedi (Raigad), Bronze: Aditya Limbhore (PDJA) and Aryan Mokashi (PJA)
Under 55-kg – Gold: Arjun Chodankar (Mumbai), Silver: Rudra Mudiraj (PDJA), Bronze: Dipak Tarke (Nanded) and Swarup Pardesi (Kolhapur)
Under 60-kg – Gold: Shouryajit Mali (Sangli), Silver: Ayan Shaikh (Mumbai), Bronze: Parth Sapate (Dharashiv) and Vishwajit Dangat (PDJA)
Under 66-kg – Gold: Nagesh Lute (Nanded), Silver: Dhyan Pandya (Mumbai), Bronze: Abhishek Vidhate (Ahilya Nagar) and Avnish Karangutkar (Sindhudurg)
Above 66-kg – Gold: Manoj Chowdhari (PDJA), Silver: Pratik Madane (Solapur), Bronze: Dev Gautam (Raigad) and Umar Qazi (Mumbai)
