Rashmi Ranjan Sahoo achieved a notable success for Odisha in bodybuilding, bagging gold medal in 80kg category of the 10th Federation Cup Senior Men Championship, held at Indira Gandhi Pratisthan in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh on 3 and 4 April, 2021.

This was the third Federation Cup gold for Sahoo, had won his earlier two in 2016 (Ludhiana) and 2018 (Patna). However, Satyajit Pratihari, the other Odisha competitor in the fray, finished 4th in 90kg category.

Other past achievements of Bhubaneswar-based Sahoo include a bronze medal in the Asian Eastern India Championship in 2012 and four Mr Odisha titles in a row from 2013. The story of his bodybuilding career has stuffs for a movie.

A native of Tentola village near Salepur in Cuttack district, Sahoo came to Bhubaneswar to pursue studies and help his father who was a street vendor. Destiny forced him to take to the street to sell snacks (bara, pakoda) on a pushcart at CRP Square.

His life took a dramatic turn after he joined Tushar Gym at Gada Sahi in Nayapalli in 2010. Under the guidance of his bodybuilding mentor Jitendra Kumar Jena, Sahoo started winning laurels at state and national level competitions.

Meanwhile, Sahoo has completed his master degree in Sanskrit from Utkal University and has a job in the Department of Posts, Government of India. He lives happily at IRC Village in Bhubaneswar along with his family.
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PHOTO: Odisha bodybuilder Rashmi Ranjan Sahoo receives his gold medal and trophy at the Federation Cup Senior Men Championship in Lucknow on 4 April, 2021.