Odisha cycling internationals Swasti Singh and Dinesh Kumar bagged a total of five medals in the 74th Senior National Track Cycling Championship, which was held at LNIPE Velodrome in Guwahati, Assam from 11 to 15 December 2022. The five medals included two gold and three silver.

Swasti captured one gold and one silver, while Dinesh pocketed one gold and two silver in the five-day championship. Rourkela cyclist started her campaign with a silver medal in women elite 3km individual pursuit, clocking 4:08.432 at a speed of 43.47km per hour. The gold and bronze in the event were bagged by Meenakshi (Haryana) and Khoirom Rejiya Devi (Manipur).

Meenakshi also broke the National Record with a timing of 3:58.159 and a speed of 45.35 kmph. She bettered the previous National Record of 4:05.547, which had been established by Swasti Singh in the 72nd National Championship in Hyderabad in March 2021.

Swasti ended her campaign with a gold in women elite omnium race, garnering a total of 138 points. She also avenged her defeat in the final of the 3km individual pursuit event by beating Meenakshi in the omnium race. Meenakshi settled for the silver medal with 135 points.

Dinesh Kumar, who also belongs to Steel City, Rourkela, won the gold in elite men 30km madison event and the two silver in 4km team and individual pursuit events. In 4km individual pursuit he clocked 4:44.638 with a speed of 50.59 kmph. However, all three medals won by Dinesh went to the account of his employers Services Sports Control Board (SSCB).
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TOP: Odisha woman cycling international Swasti Singh poses with her gold and silver medal at the 74th Senior National Track Cycling Championship in Guwahati on 14 December 2022.