Bhubaneswar: Bhubaneswar-Khordha District Athletic Association (BKDAA) reigned supreme, bagging 17 out of 22 gold medals on the opening day of the 64th Odisha State Swimming Championship at Aquatic Centre, Kalinga Stadium, in Bhubaneswar.
Swimmers from Kalinga Institute Social Sciences (KISS) and Sambalpur won two gold medals each, while Cuttack claimed one yellow metal. The gold medallists included woman international Pratyasa Ray and national level swimmers Sonia Patel, Anmol Mohanty and Anshika Aradhana Sahoo.
Around 450 swimmers, including 180 females from 20 district units, joined the four-day championship, which is being jointly organised by Odisha State Swimming Association (OSSA) and the Department of Sports & Youth Services (DSYS).
Competitions are being held in sub-junior (Group-III), junior (Group I and II) and senior male and female categories. Swimmers selected from the State championship would represent Odisha in the 40th Sub-junior and 50th Junior National Championship to be held in Bhubaneswar from August 6-11.
DSYS Secretary Bhaskar Jyoti Sarma graced the opening ceremony of the State championship as chief guest and gave away the medals. OSSA president Pradip Kumar Padhee, vice-president Amar Ranjan Mohanty, general secretary Golapmani Mahanta, treasurer Bijaya Dixit, technical head Surendra Kumar Naik and Inspire Institute of Sports technical head Douglas Eager were present on the occasion.
Ashutosh Nayak, Rankanidhi Sethi and Manoj Bonchhor conducted the events with swimming Olympian Sandeep Sejwal (JSW) lending a helping hand.
