Bhubaneswar: Athletes from Odisha have scripted history with their stellar performance at the 63rd National Inter-State Senior Athletics Championships 2024 held in Panchkula from June 26th to 30th. The contingent has achieved Odisha’s best-ever showing in the championship, securing a total of 9 medals, including 3 gold, 4 silver, and 2 bronze medals.
The athletes, who honed their skills at the Athletics High Performance Centres (HPC), showcased exceptional talent across various track and field events. Javelin thrower Vikrant Mallik clinched a silver medal with a remarkable throw of 81.74 metres, while Asian Games medalist Kishore Jena secured a bronze with a throw of 80.84 metres.
Sprinter Animesh Kujur emerged as a star performer, claiming two medals—a gold in the men’s 200m event and a silver in the men’s 100m event. His electrifying run in the men’s 200m also set a new meet record with a timing of 20.65 seconds. Meanwhile, HPC cadet Pragyan Prashanti Sahu set a new Odisha record in the women’s 100m hurdles event with a timing of 13.15 seconds.
In other notable performances, sprinter Srabani Nanda clinched gold in the women’s 200m event, while Ramandeep Kaur, another HPC athlete, secured silver in the 400m hurdles event. Jasbir Nayak showcased his versatility by winning a silver medal in the Decathlon event.
Team efforts also contributed significantly to Odisha’s medal tally. The women’s 4x100m relay team comprising Srabani Nanda, Sukhi Baskey, Manisha Merel, and Merymukta Soren secured a bronze medal. On the other hand, the men’s 4x100m relay team comprising Amiya Mallick, Animesh Kujur, D Jayaram, and Aryan Ekka clinched a gold medal, highlighting their collective strength and coordination.
The outstanding performance of Odisha athletes at the national championship underscores their dedication, hard work, and the state’s growing prominence in Indian athletics. The support and training provided at the Athletics High Performance Centres continue to propel these athletes towards greater achievements on the national stage.