In a thrilling finale at the Divisional Sports Complex, Solapur emerged victorious in the women’s state-level handball tournament, securing the championship title by defeating Kolhapur in the final match. The Solapur team displayed exceptional skill, with Shraddha Walekar and Vaishnavi Gadde contributing significantly to their 14-12 triumph over Kolhapur.
Shraddha Walekar’s impressive five goals, combined with Vaishnavi Gadde’s six-goal contribution, played a crucial role in Solapur’s success. The final match showcased intense competition and strategic plays, highlighting the prowess of both teams.
The third-place match saw the Thane team securing a commendable victory against the Nashik team, with a margin of 11-9. Gayatri Kaushal of Thane played a pivotal role in securing the third-place position by scoring five crucial goals.
Chief Guest Entrepreneur Anurag Save presented prizes to the winning, runner-up, and third-place teams. The ceremony was attended by prominent figures, including former MLA Shrikant Joshi, PSI Shraddha Vaidande, Pankaj Bharsakhle, Randhir Singh, and Dr. Kejal Bharsakhle, who presented the coveted trophy.
Individual excellence was also acknowledged through awards, with Vaishnavi Gadde earning the ‘Best Player’ prize, Sai Ingle receiving the ‘Best Goalkeeper’ award, and Gayatri Kaushal being recognized as the ‘Best Upcoming Player.’
The success of the state-level handball tournament was attributed to the dedicated efforts of the district handball association, with key figures such as Dr. Meenakshi Mulia, Prabhakar Bharsakhle, Dr. Ujwala Satdive, Dr. Satyajit Pagare, Dr. Kalidas Tadlapurkar, Dr. Sachin Pagare, Ashish Kanhead, and Sanjay Satdive contributing significantly to its organization.
While the tournament celebrated skill and teamwork, critics argue that more attention is needed to popularize and support handball at the grassroots level.
