National Games 2023: Odisha rowers steal show

In yet another significant success for Odisha’s contingent, the rowing team secured two bronze medals in the National Games at Goa on Wednesday.

Odisha also registered their first bronze in the Wushu discipline to follow up on athletic silver in the Men 4×100m relay event on Tuesday. Odisha’s medal tally is currently at 26, with five gold, nine silver and twelve bronze medals, already matching their overall haul from the previous edition of the National Games. 

The rowing triumphs were led by Ritu Kaudi and Sonali Swain, earning bronze in the W2-F1 event. Meanwhile Sanjukta Dungdung, Sweeti, Anshika Bharti and Reshma Kumari Minz won bronze in the W4-F1 event. 

 “We are quite pleased with the performance though we had the potential to do better. However, it has been challenging for them. Rowing is a training intensive discipline and some of our coaches including myself have been away with the Indian contingent for Asian Games. Despite this, I think the athletes have performed admirably,” said rowing coach Inderpal Singh.

 “We have a good set up in Jagatpur so we are quite fortunate. We have more events coming up later in the week and hopefully we can add to our current medal tally,” he added.

Biram Tudu took home the bronze medal for Odisha in Wushu at the Taolu event marking State’s first medal of the competition in the Wushu discipline.

Furthermore, the Odisha women’s football team marked their place in the semifinals, despite logging a 0-4 defeat at the hands of Haryana. The team is scheduled to play West Bengal on November 3. 

The athletic team that triumphed in the men’s 4×100m relay event comprised Amiya Kumar Malik, DM Jairam, Lalu Prasad Bhoi, Aryan Ekka. 

In women’s hockey, a resilient Odisha squad fought hard against Madhya Pradesh but conceded the match with a 2-3 scoreline. Neha Lakra and Lilima Minz were the goal scorers for Odisha.