As many as four New Meet Records (NMR) were established on the opening day of the 48th National Junior Aquatic Championship, which commenced at the Biju Patnaik Swimming Pool Complex in Kalinga Stadium, Bhubaneswar today. This is the first time that a National Aquatic Championship is being held in Odisha.

Comptitions were completed in 12 swimming events on the opening day. But host Odisha swimmers failed to win any medal in the day. Mannata Mishra was the most successful Odisha performer of the day, finishing fourth in Girls Group-I (15-17 years) 100m breaststroke with a timing 1:18.51.

Odisha Sports Minister Tusharkanti Behera was the chief guest of the opening ceremony and formally declared the championship open. In his address he reiterated the pledge of Government of Odisha to make Bhubaneswar the Sports Capital of the country. He said that Odisha had become the sporting hub for all sports disciplines.

The Sports Minister hoped that with the completion of the indoor ultra modern aquatic complex at Kalinga Stadium, Bhubaneswar will definitely develop, promote and expand the aquatic sport in Odisha in particular and India in general.

He spoke about the grassroots level training facilities available in nine different centres of the state and said that swimming is given the top priority along with the game of hockey. Mannata Mishra, captain of the Odisha contingent, took the oath of fair play and sportsmanship on behalf of all the participants.

Among others present in the inaugural ceremony were: State Sports Secretary R Vineel Krishna, Glenmark Pharmaceuticals CMD Glenn Saldanha, Swimming Federation of India President RN Jayprakash, Secretary General Monal Choksey, Odisha State Swimming Association Working President Soma Mishra and General Secretary Golapmani Mahanta.

NEW MEET RECORDS ON 16 JULY 2022:
1. Hashika Ramachandra (Karnataka), Girls 12-14 years 200m freestyle (2:05.65).
2. Apeksha Fernandes (Mahararashtra), Girls 15-17 years 100m breaststroke (1:12.83).
3. Suhas Preetham M (Telangana), Boys 12-14 years 100m backstroke (1:01.29).
4. Ridhima Veerendra Kumar (Karnataka), Girls 15-17 years 100m backstroke (1:04.96).
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PHOTO: Promising Odisha swimmer Mannata Mishra takes oath of fair play and sportsmanship at the 48th National Junior Aquatic Championship in Bhubaneswar on 16 July 2022.