Odisha In 38th National Games: Women’s Rugby Team, Lifter Rima Bhoi Strike Gold

Bhubaneswar: Odisha had a field day at the 38th National Games in Uttarakhand on Friday.

It was their female athletes who once again shone bright.

The Odisha Women’s Rugby team put on a golden show to emerge champions, overcoming Bihar 29-5 in the final.

In the semifinal earlier in the day, Odisha saw off the challenge of Maharashtra 31-5.

The Odisha Men’s Rugby team secured bronze medal defeating West Bengal with 26-10.

Odisha’s second gold of the day came in the weightlifting arena, where Rima Bhoi triumphed in the Women’s 59 kg category.

Bronze each for Swasti & Riya

Ace cyclist Swasti Singh earned the bronze medal in 60 km Road Mass Start event. She finished behind Gujarat’s Muskan Gupta (gold) and Maharashtra’s Pooja Danole (silver).

Wushu player Riya Thakur added a bronze to Odisha’s kitty when she finished third in Women’s Gunshu (Taolu) event. Vanshika Namdeo (Madhya Pradesh) bagged gold and Padmani Narzari of Assam took silver.

Another female Wushu player Manju Munda qualified for the final by defeating her Delhi opponent in Women’s Sanda 45 kg category.

Odisha will be eyeing gold in Women’s KhoKho competition after nudging out Karnataka 36-23 in the semifinal.