Odisha Swimmers Win First-Ever Senior National Gold

Bhubaneswar: Odisha continued to create history in swimming by winning its first-ever Senior National gold medal in Mangalore on Thursday.

The State women swimmers once again achieved the incredible success in 4x100m medley relay on the penultimate day of the 77th Senior National Aquatic Championship at the International Complex in Mangalore, Karnataka.

The Odisha women’s team, featuring Pratyasa Ray, Mannata Mishra, Shristi Upadhaya and Sonia Patel, grabbed the coveted gold medal with a time of 4 minutes and 27.29 seconds. Starting the event as underdogs, the Odisha quartet emerged champions, leaving behind formidable teams from Maharashtra, Karnataka, Railways and Bengal.

Pratyasa, the most decorated Odisha swimmer, set the stage for the historic win as she gave them the much-required lead in backstroke. Riding on the confidence-boosting lead, Mannata and Shristi maintained the same in the second and third lap, featuring breaststroke and butterfly. Sonia clinched the memorable victory with her freestyle personal best in the last lap.

“The girls have once again made Odisha proud with the historic relay gold. Despite being allotted Lane 8, which is considered as the toughest, our girls took it a challenge and proved themselves the best with sheer grit and determination,’’ described Odisha State Swimming Association working president Soma Mishra, who was a witness to the exciting event.

“It was a sensational achievement and made everyone at the venue sit up and take notice of the Odisha swimmers. Parents of the Odisha swimmers celebrated the victory with dance. Swimming Federation of India general secretary Monal Choksi personally came to greet the Odisha medal winners,” added Mishra, who is also the mother of Mannata.

“I feel great today. I am yet to believe that we have won a gold medal for the first time in the Senior National Championship. I am thankful to my teammates, coaches and parents for this achievement,’’ shared Sonia.

This was the third medal for Odisha in the ongoing Senior National Aquatic Championship, preceded by a bronze in women’s 4x200m relay and a silver by Pratyasa in women’s 100m backstroke, bagged earlier on the opening day.