Odisha wushu prodigy Swetarani Mahanta made the State and the country proud by winning gold medal in junior women (16-17 years) 48 kg sanda (fight) event of the Moscow Wushu Stars International Tournament 2024 in Moscow, Russia today. This was the second successive Moscow Wushu Stars gold medal for Keonjhar girl Sweta, who secured her first one last year in sub-junior 48 kg category.

Daughter of martial art exponent Pankaj Mahanta, Sweta clinched her second gold in Moscow, defeating a Russian opponent in the final. Earlier, she won her bouts against competitors from Azerbaijan and Egypt to reach the final.

Student of Jindal School, Barbil, Sweta was hopeful to represent India after putting up impressive performance at the National selection trials, held at the KPR Institute of Engineering and Technology in Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu on January 22, 2024.

But her selection was confirmed while she was appearing for her 10th Board Examination. “She left for Delhi to join the Indian squad after the first day of her examination, which featured Hindi. Hope she will be allowed to complete her examinations after returning home from Moscow,’’ said her father and coach, who is also a former kickboxing medal winner at Indoor Asian Games.

Athletes from over 30 countries vied for medal in both sanda (fight) and taolu (forms) events of the Moscow Wushu Star International Tournament, which commenced on February 28. Participation of the Indian squad was sanctioned at full cost to the Government of India.

Sweta has so far been nurtured by JSP Foundation, the social arm of Jindal Steel & Power Limited. But the Government of Odisha has not yet given any cash award to the Barbil wushu wonder for her international achievements.
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PHOTO: Odisha girl Swetarani Mahanta poses with her gold medal at the Moscow Wushu Stars International Tournament in Moscow on 4 March 2024.