Odisha Shines at 35th East Zone Junior Athletics: 24 Medals, Including 10 Gold on Day 2

Bhubaneswar: Team Odisha continued its impressive performance on Day 2 of the 35th East Zone Junior Athletics Championship 2024, securing 24 medals—10 gold, 6 silver, and 8 bronze—at the event being held at Kalinga Stadium.

The athletes were greeted and encouraged by Bhaskar Sarma, Principal Secretary of the Sports and Youth Services Department, who graced the championship on its second day. Sarma congratulated the athletes on their success and extended his best wishes as they continue to excel in the competition.

Across 18 track and field events, Odisha’s athletes displayed outstanding skills. Pratik Maharana won a gold medal in the Boys U18 200m event, while Dondapati Jayaram and Astik Pradhan claimed gold and silver, respectively, in the Boys U20 200m event. The team of Astik Pradhan, Pankaj Mandal, Jasman Kujur, and Bapi Hansda clinched gold in the Boys U20 4x400m relay. In the Girls U20 Javelin event, P. Arpita Archana took home the gold, and Sunita Santa won gold in the Girls U18 1000m event.

The athletes’ success is a testament to their dedication and hard work, as well as the guidance of their coaches. Sanjay Garnaik, Head Coach of Athletics Project Odisha, expressed his delight at the team’s performance and shared his optimism for the upcoming junior nationals. “Looking at the performances of our athletes in this competition, I am certain that our showing at the junior nationals will be much better than previous years. The East Zone Championship is like a warm-up session for our athletes,” said Garnaik.

So far, Odisha has secured a total of 51 medals at the championship, comprising 18 gold, 14 silver, and 19 bronze, positioning the state as a formidable contender in the competition.