KCA UK Badminton Tournament – Season 1
The Konkani Cultural Association UK (KCA UK) successfully organised its Season 1 Badminton Tournament on 21 March 2026 at Lostock High School, Stretford, Manchester. The event brought together approximately 40 participants from across the community, representing a wide range of age groups and skill levels, and competing in both singles and doubles categories.
The tournament was graced by Chief Guest Dr. Gajanan K, a distinguished personality in the field of medicine and research and a respected leader within the Asian diaspora in Manchester.
The programme began with an inaugural ceremony Led by Joseph Sequeira that set a positive and energetic tone for the day. Following a warm-up session, President Sujith Rodrigues delivered the welcome address, emphasising the importance of sports in promoting unity, health, and community engagement. An invocation led by Gina Lobo sought blessings for the success of the event, after which Joylin Cornelio administered the players’ oath, reinforcing the spirit of fair play and sportsmanship. Participants were then briefed on the rules and guidelines by Flavy Lobo, and a demonstration session conducted by Milton Dsouza provided valuable insights into the key aspects of the game.
The matches commenced at 10:30 AM with the women’s singles category and progressed smoothly throughout the day. The tournament witnessed enthusiastic participation and a high level of competitive spirit, with players showcasing skill, determination, and mutual respect. The matches concluded at 5:30 PM, followed by a prize distribution ceremony recognising the achievements of the winners and runners-up.
Congratulations to our 2026 winners!
Celebrating Our Winners
Women’s Category
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Singles Winner – Arpita Gajanan
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Singles Runner-up – Joylin Menezes
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Doubles Winners – Arpita Gajanan & Richelle Rodrigues
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Doubles Runners-up – Joylin Menezes & Sunita Devaramani
Men’s Category
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Singles Winner – Aaron Ravi
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Singles Runner-up – Milton Dsouza
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Doubles Winners – Aaron Ravi & Winston Pinto
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Doubles Runners-up – Naveen Mascarenhas & Sumith Quadras
The tournament was conducted in a highly organised and professional manner, reflecting meticulous planning and teamwork. It provided an excellent platform for participants to showcase their abilities while promoting discipline, teamwork, and sportsmanship. The event also highlighted the growing interest in sports within the community and encouraged young and amateur players to actively engage in physical activity and adopt a healthy lifestyle.
The Association expresses its sincere appreciation to all those who contributed to the success of the event. Special recognition is extended to Vice President and Sports Lead Santhosh Sequeira, along with Milton Dsouza and Vinjoy Rego, for their leadership, planning, and dedicated efforts. Gratitude is also extended to the referees and umpiring panel led by Ronald Lobo, Naveen, Mahesh, Dandu Pius serving as the main referees and supported by Dominic Kumar, Stany Rodrigues, and Vinod Barboza, for ensuring the fair and efficient conduct of matches.
Acknowledgement is also due to Fiona Crasta, Gina Lobo, Jyothi Rodrigues, Vimala Chinnappa, Maria Shiromy, and Roylet Dsouza for serving as line referees with great commitment. The contribution of Stan Mendonca and Juliana Fernandes in overseeing the scoring process is gratefully recognised, as is Diana Monis’s support with first aid. The Association also appreciates the generous support of community members who provided refreshments for players and spectators, with special thanks to Jyothi Mendonca and Marina Monis for snacks and tea and Charlotte Barboza for sponsoring lunch.
Special thanks to Ajith Rego and Anthony Mary for capturing the memorable moments of the event through photography and media coverage.
The Association also extends its gratitude to the Lostock Hall Management Team for providing an excellent venue, and to all spectators and supporters whose presence and encouragement added to the vibrant atmosphere of the day.
Building on the success of this inaugural tournament, KCA UK looks forward to organising similar events in the future, with the continued aim of encouraging participation, nurturing talent, and strengthening community bonds.
