Odisha Shines on Day 1 of 35th East Zone Junior Athletics Championship with 27 Medals

Bhubaneswar: Odisha athletes delivered an exceptional performance on the opening day of the 35th East Zone Junior Athletics Championship 2024, securing a total of 27 medals across various track and field events. The championship, which commenced today at Kalinga Stadium, saw athletes from across the eastern region competing at the highest level.

The event was inaugurated by Sports & Youth Services Minister Suryabanshi Suraj, who welcomed all participants and inspired them to give their best over the coming days. Speaking at the event, the Minister expressed pride in Odisha’s role in supporting young athletes, stating, “Odisha takes great pride in supporting emerging talent. Events like the East Zone Junior Athletics Championship are crucial in our mission to nurture and elevate young athletes. I congratulate all participants and wish them success in their sporting endeavors.”

Minister Suraj also celebrated Odisha’s remarkable performance on Day 1, attributing the success to the hard work of the athletes and their coaches. “The achievements we are witnessing today reflect the dedication of our athletes and the tireless efforts of their coaches. I am immensely proud of their performance and grateful to the coaches for their commitment in shaping Odisha’s sporting future,” he added.

Odisha athletes dominated across several categories. Some of the standout performances included:

• Pradeep Mahata: Silver in U20 Boys 5000m.
• Sanju Hantal: Bronze in U18 Girls Long Jump and another bronze in U18 Girls 100m.
• Soumya Ranjan Priyadarshy: Silver in U16 Boys Shot Put.
• Sagar Ekka: Bronze in U18 Boys High Jump.
• Omkar Nanda: Gold in U18 Boys Shot Put.
• Anshika Routray: Gold in U20 Girls Shot Put.
• Purabi Padhi: Gold in U18 Girls Discus Throw.
• Pratik Maharana: Gold in U18 Boys 100m.
• Dondapati Jayaram: Gold in U20 Boys 100m.

Additional medals were won by athletes across hurdles, javelin, long jump, triathlon, and race walking events, highlighting Odisha’s breadth of talent in athletics.

The 35th East Zone Junior Athletics Championship, which runs from 7-9 October 2024, brings together over 600 athletes from 10 states, including West Bengal, Bihar, Jharkhand, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Sikkim, Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, and Manipur. With 115 athletes representing Odisha, the host state is fielding a strong contingent, aiming for continued success throughout the three-day competition.

The championship, hosted by the Sports and Youth Services Department in collaboration with the Odisha Athletics Association and under the aegis of the Athletics Federation of India, is a key platform for identifying and nurturing young athletic talent in the region.