Odisha reigned supreme at the Khelo India Junior Women Swimming Series Round-1 (Zone-4), bagging a total of 39 medals, including 17 on the second and last day at Jhasketan Sahu Swimming Pool in Sambalpur today. The 39 medals, featured 14 gold, 15 silver and 10 bronze.
Dibyanka Dibyajyoti Pradhan emerged as the most successful Odisha swimmer, winning the gold medal in all four events she participated. Among other Odisha gold medal winners, Chinmayee Behera and Dhanvi Bhowmik bagged three each, while Akankshya Nayak, Arpita Samal, Anshika Aradhana Sahu and Pratikhya Nandi claimed one apiece.
Odisha competitors also secured 20 other cash prizes for finishing fourth or fifth in respective events. Odisha State Swimming Association (OSSA) hosted the two-day competition with the support of Sports Authority of India, Swimming Federation of India, State Sports & Youth Services Department and Sambalpur District Administration.
Vedbhudhan, Commissioner of Sambalpur Municipal Council gave away the prizes at the closing ceremony. OSSA presided by Pradip Kumar Padhee, general secretary Golapmani Mahanta, treasurer Bijaya Kumar Dixit, joint-secretaries Lakshmi Chandra Mahakur and Rajeeb Lochan Dash, and technical director Surendra Naik were present on the occasion.
ODISHA MEDAL & PRIZE WINNERS (DAY-2):
U-18 GIRLS:
200m backstroke: Akankshya Nayak (Gold), Mahika Mahakur (Silver), Priyasha Roy (4th).
100m breaststroke: Anshika Aradhana Sahoo (Gold), Aanchal Bag (Bronze).
400m freestyle: Divyanka Dibyajyoti Pradhan (Gold), Reshma Majhi (Bronze), Aanchal Bag (4th), Anupriya Panda (5th).
100m freestyle: Anshika Aradhana Sahoo (Silver), Reshma Majhi (4th).
U-15 GIRLS:
200m backstroke: Dhanvi Bhaumik (Gold), Priyadarshini Rout (Silver), Arpita Seth (4th), Anita Banchhor (5th).
100m breaststroke: Arpita Seth (5th).
400m freestyle: Chinmayee Behera (Gold), Dhanvi Bhaumik (Silver), Pratikhya Nandi (Bronze), Priyadarshini Rout (4th), Deeptimayee Singh (5th).
200m butterfly: Pratikhya Nandi (Gold), Arpita Samal (Silver), Shreejeeta Mahakur (Bronze).
100m freestyle: Chinmayee Behera (Gold), Tuhina Behuray (Silver), Anjali Munda (4th).
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PHOTO: Odisha medal winners (L-R) Rani Naik, Pratikhya Nandi, Priyadarshini Rout, Chinmayee Behera, Divyanka Dibyajyoti Pradhan, Anshika Aradhana Sahoo, Arpita Samal and Tuhina Behuray pose at the Khelo India Junior Women Swimming Series in Sambalpur on 29 September 2024.