National Open Athletics Championships Kicks Off In Bhubaneswar

Bhubaneswar: The 58^th National Open Athletics Championships began at Kalinga Stadium in Odisha capital on Tuesday.

A total of 805 athletes from all the states, including 15 from Odisha, are participating in the four-day event.

Prominent Odisha athletes taking part in the event are international sprinter Amiya Mallick, and promising sprinter Parbati Sethi. Mallick will participate in the 100 and 200-metre sprint and 4X100 metre relay race.

Besides, Purnima Hembram and Jauna Murmu will represent Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC). The duo is currently working for ONGC.

Asian Games Gold medalist Arpinder Singh will be the star attraction at the Championships and the triple jump event.

However, Asian Gold Medalist and Javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra, sprinters Dutee Chand and Hima Das are not participating in the event.

Another woman sprinter from Odisha, Srabani Nanda will not be seen in action.

The AFI had earlier confirmed participation of about 60 athletes, who had taken part in the recently concluded Asian Games. However, only nine have turned up for this event.

There will be five events on the opening day of the Championships. They are men’s Pole Vault, women’s Javelin, 10,000 metre event for men and women and the women’s Triple Jump.

The championships, being organized by the State Sports and Youth Affairs department, will conclude on September 28.