Odisha powerlifters bagged a total of eight medals in the National Benchpress Championship, held at Jamshedpur in Jharkhand from March 4 to 7. Medals included one gold, four silver and three bronze.

Ashok Kumar Prasad was most successful Odisha competitor, winning the gold medal in Master-1 unequipped category and one silver in equipped setion.

The other three silver medals were secured in the unequipped category by Byasa Prasad Singh (59kg), Surath Biswal (83jg) and Samita Barik (84kg). Pradeep Kumar Mishra (105kg), Samarendra Routray (Junior 74kg) and Brahmapada Behera (Master-I 74kg) claimed the three bronze medals also in unequipped category.