Bhubaneswar: Seventeen players from Odisha AM/NS India Kho Kho High Performance Centre (HPC) performed remarkably well at the 58th Senior National Kho Kho Championship at Kazipet Railway Stadium in Telangana last week.
The Odisha women’s team finished runners-up in the championship, while the Odisha men secured joint-third position with the Kolhapur team.
The Odisha women’s team comprised eight athletes from the HPC — Archana Majhi, Subhashree Sing, Magai Majhi, Archana Pradhan, Harapriya Bhuyan, Sabita Murmu, Lisarani Raita and Kadambini Majhi.
Odisha men’s team also had eight athletes from HPC — Arjun Singh, Deepak Kumar Sahoo, Pabani Sabar, Papu Marndi, Sunil Patra, Vishal Oram, T Sankar and Siba Gunta.
Another HPC athlete Sameer Adiwal represented Madhya Bharat team at the Nationals.
Odisha women’s team remained unbeaten en route to the final, before suffering an agonising loss in the title clash. Up against defending champions Maharashtra, Odisha were edged out 22-23.
HPC’s Archana Pradhan was adjudged best defender of the tournament.
Odisha men’s team displayed great consistency to win all league matches, as well their pre-quarterfinal and quarterfinal fixtures. In the semifinals, they suffered a narrow defeat at the hands of eventual champions and holders Railways.
“These performances reflect the discipline, mental strength and technical growth of our athletes. Competing at this level and delivering such results against top teams validates our long-term vision for athlete development at the HPC,” said Sanjeev Sharma, Head Coach, Odisha AM/NS India Kho Kho HPC.
