A 22-member Odisha State squad reaped a rich harvest of 18 medals in the 23rd National Para Swimming Championship, which was hosted by Para Sports Association of Madhya Pradesh, under the aegis of Paralympic Committee of India at Atal Bihari Vajpayee Training Centre for Disability Sports in Gwalior from 29 to 31 March 2024.

According to information shared by Para Sports Association of Odisha (PSAO), the 18 medals included six gold, six silver and six bronze. This was a huge improvement, considering the fact that Odisha had bagged only three medals in the previous National championship.

Kamalakanta Nayak was the most successful among nine medal winners from Odisha, bagging three gold. Akash Banchhor also achieved outstanding success, capturing two gold and one silver medal. Narahari Behera was another gold medal winner for Odisha.

Other six medal winners were: Kabita Dalai, Digantabhanu Mallik, Lokanath Sahoo, Dinesh Mohan Majhi, Monali Swain and Rasmita Jena. PSAO thanked the Department of Sports & Youth Services, Government Odisha for organising an 18-day-long coaching camp for the State squad, which helped a lot in bagging the rich haul of medals.

ODISHA MEDAL WINNERS:

Gold: Kamalakanta Nayak, Mens Senior S-4 category, 100m freestyle, 02:39.31.
Gold: Kamalakanta Nayak, Mens Senior S-4 category, 50m backstroke, 01:13.95.
Gold: Kamalakanta Nayak, Mens Senior S-4 category, 100m backstroke, 02:39.40.
Gold: Akash Banchhor, Mens Senior S-5 category, 50m backstroke, 00:53.56.
Gold: Akash Banchhor, Mens Senior S-5 category, 100m backstroke, 02:01.65.
Gold: Narahari Behera, Mens Senior S-5 category, 50m freestyle, 00:48.94.

Silver: Akash Banchhor, Mens Senior S-5 category, 50m freestyle, 00:49.81.
Silver: Kabita Dalai, Womens Senior S-6 category, 50m freestyle, 01:03.36.
Silver: Kabita Dalai, Womens Senior S-6 category, 100m freestyle, 02:21.05.
Silver: Kabita Dalai, Womens Senior S-6 category, 100m backstroke, 02:39.66.
Silver: Digantabhanu Mallik, Boys Junior S-6 category, 50m backstroke, 01:17.74.
Silver: Digantabhanu Mallik, Boys Junior S-6 category, 50m freestyle, 01:00.50.

Bronze: Narahari Behera, Mens Senior SB-4 category, 100m ?, 02:49.35.
Bronze: Lokanath Sahoo, Boys Junior S-9 category, 50m backstroke, 00:51.84.
Bronze: Dinesh Mohan Majhi, Mens Senior S-10 category, 50m freestyle, 00:31.12.
Bronze: Dinesh Mohan Majhi, Mens Senior S-10 category, 100m backstroke, 01:26.32.
Bronze: Monali Swain, Womens Senior S-8 category, 50m backstroke, 01:07.88.
Bronze: Rasmita Jena, Womens Senior S-9 category, 50m backstroke, 01:17.53.
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PHOTO: Odisha medal winners pose at the 23rd National Para Swimming Championship in Gwalior on 31 March 2023.