Barbil: In a record medal haul by JSPL Foundation-backed Wushu athletes so far, the participants won 28 gold medals in the recently concluded 26th State Wushu Championship at Belpahad in Jharsuguda district held from August 17 to 19.
The team comprising 34 male and 22 female athletes have won seven Silver and 12 Bronze medals in the event’s Sanshou fight category.
For the stunning performance, the team was adjudged 1st runner-up in Sanshou and Taolu events.
With 47 medals, this is the highest-ever medal tally by the athletes in any State level event.
Congratulating the team, JSPL Barbil Unit Head Shri Suresha G said, “I am extremely delighted with the performance of the athletes. With their sincere and wholehearted effort, the team is doing better in each passing event. I wish they bring more laurels for the state and the country”.
While Okil Munda (10) and Malini Munda (12) won the gold medal in 20 kg category, Swetarani Mahanta (10) won the gold medal in 28 kg category.
Team coach Pankaj Kumar Mahanta and team manager Purindar Giri expressed happiness over the great show by the athletes. The gold medal winners have been selected to participate in the National Wushu Championship to be held later this year, Mahanta said.
On the occasion, World Wushu Championship silver medallist Babulu Munda, coach Pankaj Kumar Mahanta and Wushu Association of Odisha president SS Harichandan were felicitated by the Jharsuguda District Wushu Association.
JSPL Foundation has been supporting tribal youths from Barbil for learning and practicing Kick-Boxing, Judo and Wushu by providing all infrastructure and coaching facilities to the tribail youth and children who have participated in several many national level championships and brought laurels for the state.
Recently, 13-year-old Babulu Munda had won the silver medal in the 42 kg sub-junior category of Sanshou discipline at 7th World Wushu Championship in Brazil.
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