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Indian Express
15 hours ago
- Business
- Indian Express
Goa seeks some inspiration from Spanish town known for its beach sports
Goa Tourism Minister Rohan Khaunte said the state will promote itself as Asia's hub for 'beach and coastal sports tourism' along the lines of the Spanish municipality, Tarifa, which is one of the world's most popular destinations for windsports. 'With the right investments and partnerships, Goa can emerge as Asia's leading hub for beach and coastal sports tourism, attracting participants and visitors from across the globe, much like Tarifa has done for Europe,' Khaunte said. The minister said Tarifa, which lies at the southern tip of the Iberian Peninsula and is known for its windy beaches, has transformed itself into the 'wind capital of Europe' through kitesurfing and windsurfing. He said this shows how targeted positioning can help attract 'quality' tourists and create a thriving sports economy. 'Goa is uniquely positioned to become a premier beach sports destination. With over 100 km of pristine coastline, favourable marine conditions and a globally recognised tourism brand, our state offers ideal conditions for beach and water-based sports, such as volleyball, football, windsurfing, sailing, regattas, surfing, kiteboarding and beach cricket. The year-round pleasant climate, scenic beaches like Morjim, Arambol, Calangute and Colva and robust hospitality infrastructure enable hosting high-profile events across multiple seasons,' Khaunte said. He was responding to a calling attention motion moved by MGP MLA Jit Arolkar in the Assembly on Friday. Arolkar said there was an urgent need to position Goa 'not just as a tourist state, but also as a beach sports destination'. 'Countries like Australia, Brazil and Thailand have successfully promoted beach sports like volleyball, surfing, beach cricket, and kiteboarding to attract quality tourists and extend the tourist season. I urge the government to aggressively position Goa as a beach sports tourist destination by identifying beaches like Morjim, Arambol, Calangute, Colva and others and create the best infrastructure to host national and international beach sports events,' Arolkar said. Khaunte said the state has a proven track record of hosting global sporting events, citing the successful hosting of Ironman 70.3 Triathlon, the Rainforest Challenge, Beach Volleyball World Tour, and the World Table Tennis Star Contender. 'These events are not just competitions. They stimulate high-value tourism, generate employment, benefit allied sectors and strengthen brand Goa on the global map,' the minister said. Khaunte said the Tourism department envisions expanding coastal sports tourism through developing flagship sailing and regatta events, leveraging Goa's natural marine advantages, establishing dedicated beach sports infrastructure at identified locations, partnering with national and international sporting bodies for recurring events in disciplines like beach volleyball, windsurfing, and kiteboarding and curating integrated sports and leisure festivals to enhance spectator engagement and extend tourist stays. 'Positioning Goa as a premier beach sports tourism hub will require joint and coordinated efforts between the department of Tourism, department of Sports and other line departments to align infrastructure, event promotion, and talent development,' he said.
Time of India
2 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
Goa to emerge as Asia's leading beach sports hub: Khaunte
Porvorim: Tourism minister Rohan Khaunte assured the House that the state will position itself as Asia's premier destination for beach and coastal sports tourism, following the success of international events already hosted in the state. Responding to a calling attention motion moved by Mandrem MLA Jit Arolkar, Khaunte highlighted Goa's proven track record in delivering world-class sporting experiences. The state successfully hosted prestigious events, including the Ironman 70.3 Triathlon, Rainforest Challenge, World Table Tennis Star Contender, and Beach Volleyball World Tour – Goa Challenge. 'These events are not just competitions; they stimulate high-value tourism, generate employment, benefit allied sectors, and strengthen Brand Goa on the global map,' Khaunte stated in his reply. He cited the Spanish town of Tarifa as an inspiration. Tarifa successfully repositioned itself as the 'wind capital of Europe' through strategic promotion of kitesurfing and windsurfing, showing how targeted positioning can attract quality tourists, extend tourist seasons, and create a thriving sports economy. Khaunte announced plans to develop flagship sailing and regatta events, establish beach sports infrastructure at identified locations, and partner with national and international sporting bodies for recurring events. The initiative will involve coordinated efforts between the department of tourism, department of sports, and other line departments to align infrastructure development, event promotion, and talent development, Khaunte said. Stay updated with the latest local news from your city on Times of India (TOI). Check upcoming bank holidays , public holidays , and current gold rates and silver prices in your area. Get the latest lifestyle updates on Times of India, along with Raksha Bandhan wishes , messages and quotes !
News18
5 days ago
- Automotive
- News18
Namshum, Chengappa win RFC India 2025 in 4x4 extreme category
Panaji, Aug 5 (PTI) Chow Ujjal Namshum from Arunachal Pradesh and his co-driver Chethan Chengappa from Karnataka emerged champions in the in the '4×4 Extreme' category of the 11th edition of the Rainforest Challenge (RFC) India, after a week-long off-road motorsport competition held here. The duo secured 2302 points out of a possible 2600, completing all 26 special stages and winning 12 of them with perfect 100 scores. They also clocked the fastest timings in 14 special stages. While Namshum won the title for the first time, Chengappa enjoyed fourth win as a co-driver, a release said. Namshum also earned a free automatic entry into the Rainforest Challenge Global Grand Finale, scheduled to be held in Malaysia later this year. Cedrick Jordan Da Silva and co-driver Mackwin Dias finished runner-up 1999 points, while Telangana's Rambabu Mareedu and Kumaraswamy Thalam were third with 1957 points. In the newly introduced '4×4 Modified' category, Goa's Steven Fernandes of Goa and his co-driver Balwant Jagram clinched the top spot with 1622 points out of 2000. Cyril Dmello with co-driver Ameer Sadiq of Maharashtra and Manoj Biradar with co-driver Sachin Gadashetti from Karnataka finished second and third respectively. Mihir Dharkar and co-driver Shantanu Grover of Maharashtra won the '4×4 Stock' category with 1303 points out of 1400, followed by Bopaiah Kongettira with co-driver Bopanna Maleyanda and Prathan Chittiyappa with co driver Anush Byramudi, both from Karnataka. All three top finishers in this category competed in Maruti Suzuki vehicles. The competition, which featured 77 teams from 11 states, is the India chapter of the globally renowned Rainforest Challenge of Malaysia, considered among the world's top 10 toughest motor races. 'RFC India has grown to become the best and biggest event in the RFC Global Series," said Luis JA Wee, the founder of the Rainforest Challenge. PTI RPS DDV view comments First Published: August 05, 2025, 17:15 IST Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
New Indian Express
20-06-2025
- Automotive
- New Indian Express
The doc behind the wheel in Tata Harrier's latest viral ad
Earlier this month, a video dropped online showing a Tata ascending the rugged terrain of Anappara (Elephant Rock), a nearly 4,000-ft-tall mountain in Idukki that resembles the shape of an elephant. The promo video, which ends with the tagline 'Delete the Impossible', instantly sparked awe and discussions. Indeed, everyone wanted to learn more about the man behind the wheel, the one who navigated this electric SUV up the treacherous trail. Well, it's none other than Dr Mohammed Fahed V P, a 38-year-old ayurvedic doctor from Malappuram who won the prestigious Rainforest Challenge (RFC) in Goa, one of the toughest off-road races in the country, in 2024. Fahed's journey into the world of mud and machines began early. 'I started driving jeeps in college. But even before, growing up in Malappuram meant that I was used to the terrain usually associated with off-roading. In fact, the nearly four-kilometre stretch from the main road to our house is indeed an adventure trail,' Fahed quips.
