National Para Boccia Championship: Odisha players steal show

Para Boccia team of Odisha achieved remarkable success in the 9th National Para Boccia Championship 2024-25 held at the AMTZ Campus in Visakhapatnam. 

Representing Odisha for the first time at a national-level event, the team delivered an impressive performance, bringing pride to the State.

Damayanti Ojha won a bronze medal in the individual B-4 category. Damayanti defeated Sonali Ojha in a closely contested game with a final score of 5-4 to finish third.

In the mixed team B-4 category, the team of Sonali Ojha and Sudhir Malik secured the silver medal. They advanced to the final after defeating Jai Sai and Annapoorna with a score of 6-1 in the semi-finals but narrowly lost to Jatin Khushwa and Pooja Gupta in the finals with a score of 4-5.

In the Individual B-4 category, both Sonali Ojha and Damayanti Ojha reached the semi-finals but were defeated by international players. While Sonali lost 1-7 to Pooja Gupta, Damayanti lost 1-9 to Annapoorna Kumari. 

In the playoff for the bronze medal, Damayanti triumphed over Sonali with a score of 5-4, showcasing outstanding skill and determination.

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The team, led by Jitendra Kumar Behera, demonstrated exceptional coordination and commitment in the competition. The Para Sports Association of Odisha (PSAO) commended the athletes’ hard work and expressed confidence in the team’s potential to achieve greater success in future championships.

This remarkable debut performance by Odisha’s Para Boccia team highlights the growing strength of para sports in the State and sets the stage for even greater achievements in the future.