12th Kamalakar Pant Walawalkar Memorial Cross Country Competition Held with Great Enthusiasm at Derwan

Pranamya Shembekar, Eshwari Mule, Shravan Salunkhe, Aboli Vaske, Vaibhav Gade, Swara Upshete, Atharva Tate and Riya Gondhal emerge as winners Derwan, Chiplun: The 12th Kamalakar Pant Walawalkar Memorial Cross Country Competition, organised by SVJCT Sports Academy, Derwan, with the approval of the Ratnagiri District Athletics Association, was conducted with great enthusiasm at Derwan. More than 700 athletes from different parts of Maharashtra participated in the competition and showcased their endurance, speed and competitive spirit. Athletes competed across four age categories for boys and girls—Under-12, Under-14, Under-16 and Under-18. Pranamya Shembekar, Eshwari Mule, Shravan Salunkhe, Aboli Vaske, Vaibhav Gade, Swara Upshete, Atharva Tate and Riya Gondhal secured first place in their respective categories. The competition was inaugurated in the presence of fitness and strength expert Tapan Vaidya, Dr. Shripad Banavali, Vice-Chancellor of Shri Vithalrao Joshi Vidyapeeth, Academic Director Sharyu Yashwantrao, former national table tennis player Ajit Galvankar, Prashant Sawant, Yogesh Vichare, Dr. Jitendra Sapre, Sports Director Shrikant Paradkar and Sandeep Tawde of the Ratnagiri District Athletics Association, along with other dignitaries. The primary objective of the competition is to provide athletes with an opportunity to assess their preparation through actual competition before the school sports season begins. Cross country events test an athlete’s endurance, speed, stamina, physical fitness and mental strength, making the competition an important preparation platform for upcoming school, district and state-level championships. The event witnessed an energetic atmosphere at Derwan from the morning, with athletes, coaches, parents and sports enthusiasts gathering in large numbers. The favourable weather, with a break in the rain, created ideal conditions for the runners. Young participants also displayed tremendous confidence, determination and perseverance throughout the race, while parents and spectators enthusiastically encouraged them with applause along the route.

As part of the organisers’ efforts to encourage participation, every athlete received a T-shirt and refreshments. Cash prizes totalling ₹55,000, along with medals and certificates, were awarded to the top five finishers in all eight categories. Parents, coaches, physical education teachers and sports enthusiasts attended the event in large numbers and motivated the participants. The competition has become an important platform for emerging athletes from Ratnagiri district and surrounding regions to showcase their talent. Through its continued organisation, SVJCT Sports Academy is contributing towards the development of young athletes and providing them with valuable competitive exposure. The event also served as an opportunity for athletes to gain confidence and identify areas for improvement ahead of future competitions. While the winners celebrated their achievements, every participant who completed the race received valuable experience and motivation to improve their performance. By carrying forward the memory of Kamalakar Pant Walawalkar and encouraging the next generation of athletes, the annual cross country competition has established itself as an important sporting initiative in Derwan’s growing sports culture. The organisers and dignitaries expressed hope that the competition will continue to nurture athletes who go on to represent the district, state and nation at higher levels.

Competition Results – U12 – U14

Under-12 Boys:

1. Pranamya Shembekar – Chiplun
2. Kaivalya Bhovare – Chiplun
3. Harshal Gambare – Chiplun
4. Sarthak Kashed – Satara
5. Sahil Chavan – Lanja

Under-12 Girls:

1. Eshwari Mule – Karad
2. Pranjal Ghume – Sangameshwar
3. Shravani More – Lanja
4. Rutuja Pangale – Chiplun
5. Aarohi Shitap – Guhagar

Under-14 Boys:

1. Shravan Salunkhe – Karad
2. Samarth Surve – Karad
3. Raj Yadav – Karad
4. Ayush Jadhav – Chiplun
5. Jay Bhuvad – Chiplun

Under-14 Girls:

1. Aboli Vaske – Karad
2. Aaryadha Vaske – Karad
3. Eshwari Garud – Karad
4. Chinmayee Shigwan – Guhagar
5. Ichha Rajbhar – Chiplun

Competition Results – U16 – U18

Under-16 Boys:

1. Vaibhav Gade – Sangli
2. Krishna Wadkar – Karad
3. Himanshu Salode – Sangli
4. Ganraj Dhotre – Satara
5. Rohan Rathod – Chiplun

Under-16 Girls:

1. Swara Upshete – Lanja
2. Riddhi Bhalekar – Chiplun
3. Sanvi Surve – Ratnagiri
4. Akshaya Kolambekar – Ratnagiri
5. Vaidehi Jangam – Chiplun

Under-18 Boys:

1. Atharva Tate – Satara
2. Sagar Sharma – Sangli
3. Ayush Barje – Dapoli
4. Prajwal Yedge
5. Mayur Soya

Under-18 Girls:

1. Riya Gondhal – Karad
2. Rani Gawde – Karad
3. Aarya Dorlekar – Ratnagiri
4. Riddhi Chavan – Ratnagiri
5. Simran Pawar – Sangameshwar