Rayagada lifter Basanta Maleka stole the show on the opening day of the 27th Odisha State Powerlifting Championship, winning two gold medals at Utkal Karate School in Bhubaneswar today. He won the two titles in junior men 59kg and mens open benchpress events.

Over 200 powerlifters from 10 districts have joined the three-day championship, which is being organised by Odisha Powerlifting Association.

RESULTS:
Sub-junior Boys: 53kg: 1. Trinath Hansda (Mayurbhanj), 2. L Vamsi Krishna (Rayagada), 3. Pintu Garada (Rayagada), G Abhishek (Rayagada).
Junior Men: 53kg: 1. Bibhuti Bhusan Sahoo (Khurda), 2. Siman Pradhan (Mayurbhanj), 3. Narendra Nag (Rayagada). 59kg: 1. Basanta Maleka (Rayagada), 2. Manoj Kumar Gouda (Khurda), 3. Rama Chandra Sahoo (Khurda).
Senior Men: 59kg: 1. Sonu Sahoo (Cuttack), 2. Manoj Mahanta (Mayurbhanj), 3. Sambhunath Mohanty (Mayurbhanj).
Men Master-1: 59kg: 1. Sujit Kumar Giri (Balasore), 2. K Uma Sankar (Rayagada).
Men Master-2: 59kg: 1. Brundaban Palaka (Rayagada), 2. Makaru Sahoo (Angul).
Men Open Benchpress: 1. Basanta Maleka (Rayagada), 2. K Uma Sankar (Rayagada).