78th Senior National Aquatic Championship Kicks Off in Bhubaneswar with Odisha’s Shristi Upadhaya Winning Gold

Bhubaneswar: The 78th Senior National Aquatic Championship 2025 began with grandeur and high energy at the Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar today, drawing participation from over 400 top swimmers from across India. The five-day championship, which runs through June 26, promises to be a showcase of speed, endurance, and emerging talent in Indian swimming.

Organized jointly by the Swimming Federation of India, the Odisha State Swimming Association, and the Department of Sports and Youth Services, Government of Odisha, the event marks another milestone in Odisha’s journey as a national sports hub. A 14-member team from the host state, featuring an equal number of men and women swimmers, is representing Odisha in the competition.

Odisha struck gold on the very first day, with swimmer Shristi Upadhaya clinching top honours in the 100-meter butterfly event, igniting celebrations among the home crowd and bringing early glory to the state.

The opening ceremony was attended by Sports and Youth Services Minister Suryabanshi Suraj, who praised Odisha’s growing reputation as a sports destination and reaffirmed the government’s commitment to nurturing talent and developing infrastructure. “It is a moment of pride for Odisha to host this prestigious national aquatic championship. I congratulate all participants and wish them the very best,” the Minister said, while highlighting the state’s investment in sports.

In a major announcement, the Minister revealed that 13 new swimming pool complexes will soon be constructed in 13 districts of Odisha to promote aquatic sports at the grassroots level. “These pools will serve as training hubs for budding swimmers and strengthen the sports ecosystem across the state,” he added.

The event saw the presence of key dignitaries from the swimming community, including R.N. Jayaprakash, President of the Swimming Federation of India; Virendra Nanavati, Vice President of the Asian Aquatic Federation; Monal Chokshi, Secretary General of the Swimming Federation of India; Golapmoni Mahanath, General Secretary of the Odisha State Swimming Association; and Ashok Kumar Panda, Additional Secretary, Department of Sports and Youth Affairs.