Odisha tribal athlete Swetasini Sabar has been selected in the 16-member Indian Women Softball Team for the 19th Asian Games, which is scheduled to be held in Hangzhou, China from 23 September to 8 August 2023. Softball will be making its debut in Asian Games. India has been given entry through wild card.

Before leaving for Asian Games, the selected players will undergo coaching at the second National camp to be held at Punjab Engineering College in Chandigarh from August 5 to 25.

First year PG student of Kalinga Institute of Social Sciences (KISS), Bhubaneswar, Swetasini earlier represented India in the 16th Junior Womens Softball World Cup 2017 in Florida, USA. Also a baseball international, Swetasini represented the country in the 2nd BFA Women`s Baseball Asian Cup 2019 in Zhong Shan, China.

Swetasini has the reputation of winning one gold medal in Senior National Softball Championship, two silver medals in Senior National Baseball Championships and one silver medal in Federation Cup Baseball Championship.

Swetasini hails from Badakalakote village in Gajapati district. Her parents Dharmendra Sabar and Santi Sabar belong to Saura tribe. Twenty-four year old Swetasini honed her skills under the coaching of player-turned coach Bunu Sahoo.

KIIS & KIIT founder Dr Achyuta Samanta and Odisha Softball Association general secretary Debandra Kumar Sahoo congratulated Swetasini for her selection in the Indian team and wished her success at the Asian Games.

INDIAN WOMEN SOFTBALL TEAM FOR ASIAN GAMES: Aishwarya Puri, Aishwarya Bodke, Monali Natu, Swapnali Waydnade, Safe Joshi (all Maharashtra); Anjali Pallikkara, Stephy Saji, Rinta Cheriyan (all Kerala); Mamatha Guguloth (Telangana), Ganga Sona (Chhattisgarh), Mamta Minhas, Sandeep Kaur (both Punjab); Kumari Manisha (Himachal Pradesh), Isha (Delhi), Swetasini Sabar (Odisha), Nitya Malvi (Madhya Pradesh).
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PHOTO: Undated file picture of Odisha woman softball and baseball international Swetasini  Sabar.