National Para Athletics: Odisha Sprint Queen Jayanti Sizzles With Gold In 100m, Pankaj Bags Bronze

Odisha para-athletes reigned supreme on the second day of the 20th National Para Athletics Championships at the Kalinga Stadium on Tuesday.

Star para-athlete of the State Jayanti Behera secured a gold medal in the women’s T-47 category of 100 m event. She achieved the feat with a timing of 12.92 seconds.

“I am very happy and satisfied to continue my good form and momentum in the tournament organised at my home ground,” said Jayanti after winning the gold.

Earlier on Sunday, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik had honoured Jayanti with a cash award of Rs 15,00,000 for winning as many as three medals in the recently concluded World Para Athletics Championships in Dubai. The top para-athlete from Odisha secured a silver medal in the 200 metres sprint event. She also bagged two bronze medals in the 100 and 400 metres events, respectively.

Earlier in the day, visually-impaired cricketer and para-athlete Pankaj Bhue had won the first medal for hosts Odisha in the National Para Athletics Championships.

Pankaj bagged a bronze medal in the T-13 category of the men’s 100m event. He secured the third position in the event with a timing of 12.17 seconds.

“My primary focus is visually-impaired cricket. But I have been practising sprinting since 2016 and achieving a considerable amount of success in it. I will continue to pursue both in future,” said Pankaj.

“My next goal is to do well for the national team in the upcoming Visually-Impaired Cricket World Cup to be held in India in November this year,” he said.