Bhubaneswar: The Aquatic Centre at Kalinga Stadium, Bhubaneswar, witnessed a spectacular start to the Khelo India Junior Women’s Series-2023 today. Organized under the joint efforts of the Sports Authority of India and the Swimming Federation of India, the two-day event brings together young women swimmers from Odisha, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, and Madhya Pradesh, competing in the under-18 and under-15 age groups.
A total of 60 swimmers and 30 Technical Officers are participating in this thrilling competition, managed by The Odisha State Swimming Association. The inauguration ceremony was presided over by Pradip Kumar Padhee, President of the Odisha State Swimming Association. Shree Dipankar Mohapatra, CEO of Hockey Promotion Council of Odisha, graced the occasion as the Chief Guest, while Douglas Eagar, the Director of The Inspire Institute of Sports, Odisha, was the Guest of Honour.
On the first day of the event, 10 exciting swim competitions took place, showcasing the remarkable talent of these young swimmers. In the 200m freestyle event, Vadra Satpathy (U-18) from Odisha secured the first position, while Katyayini Singh (U-15) from Bihar claimed the top spot in the U-15 category. Bhumi Gupta (U-18) from Chhattisgarh emerged victorious in the 100m backstroke, and Riddhima Pallavi Tiwari (U-15) from Jharkhand showcased her skills by securing the first position in the 100m backstroke.
Dibyanka Dibyajyoti Pradhan from Odisha (U-18) excelled in the 100m butterfly event, while Arpita Samal from Odisha (U-15) stood first in the U-15 category for the same event. Mannata Mishra from Odisha (U-18) displayed her prowess by bagging the first position in the 200m Individual Medley event.
The competition continues to unfold, promising more thrilling performances and exciting moments as these young swimmers aim for excellence in the Khelo India Junior Women’s Series-2023.