Muscat : Noel Rasquinha Wins ISC U-14 Badminton Crown
by Dolly Sequeira
Daijiworld Media Network - Oman

Muscat, Apr 6: Noel H. Rasquinha, son of Hilda and Harry Rasquinha, is just 13 years but has achieved stupendous success in sports events in Muscat. He is reckoned amongst one of the top players in badminton today. His love for badminton started when he was young and with meticulous training and perseverance, he has cornered the glory in all the major tournaments. He was crowned champion in the recent Under-14 Boys singles badminton tournament organized by the Indian Social Club; sponsored by Bank Muscat SAOG; defeating Govind P V by 21-9, 21-12. 

Throughout the whole tournament Noel performance was just brilliant. He showed nerves of steel in the semi final of this tournament and defeated second seed Anoop Joseph 21-15, 24-22 in a tight finish.  In the Under 16 boys singles semi finals, he defeated second seed Anuj Saji 21-17, 20-22, 21-17 in an exciting game of excellent performance and smashes to enter the Finals and was the Runner Up in that tournament. His sound temperament, confidence and control over the game make him a tough opponent for his competitors.  

Noel has also won laurels for his school by winning the Inter-School Oman Under 14 Cluster tournament and went on to represent his school at the National CBSE tournament under 14 at Mohali, India. It’s not all play for this young lad; he has achieved Merit awards in his school ISM too for his academic brilliance.  Music plays a very important part in Noel’s life as he is an active participant in the Choir at the St. Peter & Paul church in Ruwi. 

Noel’s parents, Harry and Hilda, hail from St. Joseph’s Church Jeppu Mangalore and St. Lawrence Church, Attur, Karkala parish respectively. Harry Rasquinha is a brilliant musician of the Mangalorean Community in Oman with his great support in the past to the Konkani Choir. Hilda Rasquinha is working for the Ministry of Health – Sultanate of Oman and offers her services as a Catechism teacher to Sts. Peter & Paul Church Ruwi. She has also served as the Spiritual Secretary in MCCP   

Noel, as a young musician, has won many accolades for his music at school level too. Ask his parents how they feel and their joy knows no bounds. They are eternally grateful to God for gifting them a talented son who is an all rounder in sports, music and academics. They feel Noel’s greatest achievement is emerging a winner, despite being only 13 and competing with 16 year olds….proud parents of a bright child and rightly so. On a winding note, we wish Noel the very best for all his future tournaments and hope he emerges a shining star in each one of them.