Panaji: All India Sepak Takraw Association President Yoginder Singh and international referee of the game Ankit Kumar Baliyan died in a road accident near Panaji on Tuesday morning.
Police said that the accident occurred when the tanker was proceeding from Bambolim towards Panaji on Tuesday morning. On reaching the Bambolim slope, the driver, identified as Rahul Sarwade (37), allegedly lost control of the vehicle, crossed the solid divider, and entered the opposite carriageway meant for vehicles heading from Panaji to Bambolim, a police official said.
Singh (42) and Baliyan (34) were declared brought in dead at Goa Medical College and Hospital, located few metres away from the accident spot, police said.
Goa Sepak Takraw Association President and former Goa Deputy chief minister Chandrakant Kavlekar said that both the victims were in Goa to attend the Senior National Sepak Takraw championship held at Manohar Parrikar stadium, Navelim in South Goa.
The competition was held from October 23-27, 2025.
Speaking to PTI from Goa medical college and hospital where the mortal remains are kept, Kavlekar said that both the deceased were heading towards South Goa from Panaji when the accident happened during early hours of Tuesday.
Singh was on the wheels when accident happened, he said.
Police have arrested driver of the tanker for culpable homicide not amounting to murder under relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) 2023 and taken into custody.
