Divyanka Dibyajyoti Pradhan stood tall among Odisha swimmers, capturing three gold medals on the opening day of the Khelo India Junior Women Swimming Series Round-1 (Zone-4) at Jhasketan Sahu Swimming Pool in Sambalpur today.

Host Odisha asserted supremacy throughout the day, bagging a total of 22 medals, which included seven gold, nine silver and six bronze. Out of 10 gold medals of the day, two went to Jharkhand and one to Chhattisgarh.

Among other Odisha achievers, Dhanvi Bhaumik claimed two gold medals, while Chinmayee  Behera and Arpita Samal won one gold each in respective groups. Odisha swimmers also bagged 10 more cash prizes for securing positions among top five finishers in respective events.

The gold, silver and bronze medal winners became richer by Rs 6,000, Rs 5,000, and Rs 4,000 respectively, while the fourth and fifth-place finishers took home Rs 3,000 and Rs 2,000 each.

A total of 84 swimmers from Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh and Odisha joined in the U-18 and U-15 age groups the two-day event that carried medals as well as cash prizes.

Sambalpur MLA Jayanarayan Mishra declared the championship open in the presence of Sambalpur Municipal Corporation Commissioner Vedbhushan, Odisha State Swimming Association president Pradip Kumar Padhee and secretary Golapmani Mahanta.

ODISHA MEDAL & PRIZE WINNERS:

U-18 GIRLS:
200m freestyle: Anshika Aradhana Sahoo (Silver), Akankshya Nayak (Bronze), Reshma Majhi (4th), Sabitri Bhokta (5th).
100m backstroke: Mahika Mahakur (Silver), Rani Naik Nayak (Bronze), Anuva Jena (4th).
100m butterfly: Divyanka Dibyajyoti Pradhan (Gold), Akankshya Nayak (Silver), Anupriya Panda (4th).
200m breaststroke: Divyanka Dibyajyoti Pradhan (Gold), Aanchal Bag (Silver).
200m individual medley: Divyanka Dibyajyoti Pradhan (Gold), Anshika Aradhana Sahoo (Silver), Akankshya Nayak (4th), Reshma Majhi (5th).

U-15 GIRLS:
200m freestyle: Chinmayee Behera (Gold), Anjali Munda (Silver), Tuhina Behuray (Bronze), Arpita Samal (4th).
100m backstroke: Dhanvi Bhaumik (Gold), Anjali Munda (Silver), Arpita Seth (Bronze).
100m butterfly: Arpita Samal (Gold), Shreejeeta Mahakur (Silver), Pratikhya Nandi (Bronze).
200m breaststroke: Aliyana Panda (Bronze), Jigyansa Behera (4th).
200m individual medley: Dhanvi Bhaumik (Gold), Shreejeeta Mahakur (Silver), Chinmayee Behera (4th), Anjali Munda (5th).
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PHOTO: Odisha girl Divyanka Dibyajyoti Pradhan poses with one of her three gold medals at the Khelo India Junior Women Swimming Series in Sambalpur on 28 September 2024.