A nine-member Odisha squad was today announced to represent India in the 16th Special Olympic World Summer Games, scheduled to be held in Berlin, Germany from 17 to 25 June 2023. The squad features seven players and two coaches. They would compete in athletics, basketball, cycling, futsal and unified beach volleyball.

A send-off ceremony for the Odisha squad was organised by Special Olympics Bharat-Odisha in collaboration with Bharati Rath Memorial Academy of Special Human Abilities (BRM-ASHA) and KIIT at KIIT University, Bhubaneswar today.

Former international cyclist and Arjuna Awardee Minati Mahapatra, Special Olympic Bharat Odisha Area Head Prakash Ratha, BRM-ASHA vice-president Pradipta Kumar Ratha, SOB-Odisha State Project Coordinator Arpita Mohapatra, National trainers Umakanta Sarangi, Sasmita Mohapatra and KIIT Sports DG Dr Gaganendu Dash attended the ceremony and encouraged the athletes.

KIIT students Shibani Priyadarshini and Mamali Nag are have been included in the Indian team as partners for the unified beach volleyball. Mamali previously participated in 21st Asian Womens U-20 Volleyball Championship at Nur-Sultan, Kazakhstan in 2022.

Shibani was selected for Senior Indian Women Volleyball Camp for CAVA Challenge Cup 2023. Both the students have been selected for the Special Olympics World Summer Games first time.

ODISHA SQUAD:
Athletes: Aridita Chakraborty (Athletics from Bhubaneswar), Baishnab Rajpalia (Athletics, Saintala, Balangir), Sachin Barik (Futsal, Barpali, Bargarh), Kalpana Jena (Cycling, Athagarh, Cuttack).
Partners: Jyotiranjan Ojha (Volleyball, Nimapada, Puri), Mamali Nag and Shibani Priyadarshini (Beach volleyball, KIIT).
Coaches: Sasmita Routray (Basketball, Cuttack), Jhasketan Sahu (Futsal, Balangir).
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PHOTO: Members of Odisha contintent for Special Olympics World Summer Games pose with guests at a send-off ceremony in Bhubaneswar on 6 June 2023.