Odisha Athletes Shine At Khelo India National Games For PWDs In Gujarat

Bhubaneswar: A contingent of 12 athletes with intellectual disability from various parts of Odisha won 8 medals (2 Gold, 3 Silver and 3 Bronze) in Athletics and Badminton in the Khelo India National Games for PWDs held at Gandhi Nagar, Gujarat, from July 4 to 9.

These athletes were selected on the basis of their performances in the State Games for Persons with Disabilities (PwDs) conducted by Special Olympics Bharat-Odisha.

While Pravat Baral, the star all-rounder from Puri district, bagged Gold in Badminton Singles, Trilochan Pradhan from the same district won Gold in 200 metre race for men.

Similarly, silver medals were clinched by Anupama Behera of Balangir district in 200 metre race for women, Jogendra Chhatria of the same district in 200 metre race for men and the Bocce Team (Senior) in the mixed category that had participants from Cuttack district.

Besides, bronze was won by Trilochan Pradhan in 100 metre run for men, Anupama Behera in 100 metre run for women and Dharmendra Samal of Cuttack district in 200 metre run for men.

Sasmita Routray of “Sahaya”, Cuttack and Jhasketan Padhan of “SANDYP”, Chandanpur, Puri were the coaches for the Bocce and Athletics respectively.

Bibekananda Mohanty, a National Trainer of Special Olympics Bharat and Secretary of Dr BV Memorial MR Benefit Trust, Athagarh was appointed as Resource Person to conduct the Badminton events by the Sports Authority of India. He was felicitated by the organisers during the closing ceremony.