National Para Athletic Championship: Odisha players shine, Jayanti and Suchitra steal show

Odisha para-athletes put up a splendid show to win as many as five medals including four gold on the final day of the  22nd National Para Athletic Championship-2024 which concluded at the GMC Athletic Stadium in Panaji on Saturday.

While Jayanti Behera was adjudged the best female athlete in the national event, Suchitra Parida created history by breaking national records in the Javelin throw on the concluding day.

Jayanti won gold medals by emerging champions in women’s 100-meter, 200-meter and 400-meter race. In the women 100 meter T-47 category, she completed the race in 13.18 seconds. She clocked 26.92 seconds to cross 200 meters and 1:01.19 minutes to finish the 400 meter line to win triple gold for her and bring laurels for the State

Meanwhile, Suchitra scripted history by hitting 16.99 meters in the javelin throw in the F-55 category to create a national record and win the fourth gold for the State on the day.

Gumda Barla bagged a bronze medal in the T-54 wheelchair 5000-meter running event, which he finished in 19:50.85 minutes.

Odisha finished with a total of nine medals, including four gold and silver medals in the mega event.