Khurda emerged team champions, bagging a total of 55 medals in the 22nd State Kickboxing Championship, which was held at Koshal Kalamandal in Bolangir on April 7 and 8, 2018. The medals included 25 gold, 17 silver and 13 bronze. According to unconfirmed source, around 200 kickboxers from 15 districts took part in this championship.

Host Bolangir came out first runners-up with nine gold, nine silver and five bronze medals, while Bargarh settled as second runners-up with four gold, seven silver and 21 bronze medals. Competitors of Bhubaneswar-based Pumas International (Main Branch) asserted supremacy, capturing eight gold medals. The gold medalists for Pumas International were: Sai Satyam (2), Sambhav Das, Sristee Kalas, Ashish Dhirdeo Samant, Sonakshi Mohanty, Pallavi Samal, Niranjan Moharana (1 each).

The State Championship was followed by AOKA Professional Kickboxing Competition, featuring four weight categories and  11 best kickboxers of Odisha. The closing ceremony was graced by woman cricket international Madhuri Meheta, Indian Association of Kickboxing Organisation president S S Harichandan, secretary Pradyumna Behera, All Orissa Kickboxing Association secretary Bibhuti Bhusan Behera, Bolangir District Kickboxing Association president Tapan Panigrahi and secretary Yudhistir Gurahandi .
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PHOTO: Prize winners, organizing officials and guests at the State Kickboxing Championship in Bolangir on April 8, 2018.