Odia Para Athlete Jayanti Behera Clinches Bronze At Asian Para Games

Bhubaneswar/Jakarta: Ace para athlete from Odisha Jayanti Behera has once again brought laurels for the state by clinching bronze in 200 metres sprint event at the on-going 2018 Asian Para Games in Indonesia’s capital Jakarta.

Jayanti clinched the bronze by clocking a time of 27.45 seconds behind China's Lie Lu and Wang Yangpie who clocked 25.82 seconds and 26.45 seconds to clinch gold and silver medals respectively.

Reportedly, Jayanti will participate in two more events- the 100 metres sprint and 400 metres race at the games.

“With the blessings of Lord Jagannath and love and affection of the Odias, I have won a bronze medal at the Asian Para Games. I still have two more events (100mtres and 400 metres race) and I will give my best to win medals in the events and bring pride and laurels for Odisha.” said Jayanti in a video message.

"I have been able to win a medal at the #AsianParaGames2018 only because of the blessings of Lord Jagannath and the people of #Odisha," says Odia para athlete Jayanti Behera. pic.twitter.com/bcekc9QuSc

— OTV (@otvnews) October 9, 2018

Proud of Jayanti's achievement, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik announced a cash award of Rs 10 lakh.

Congratulate Jayanti Behera for winning bronze medal in 200 metre sprint at the @asianpg2018 held in Jakarta, Indonesia. #Odisha is proud of your achievement. Happy to announce ₹10 lakh prize for her. #OdishaForIndia

— Naveen Patnaik (@Naveen_Odisha) October 9, 2018

India has 4 Gold, 6 Silver and 10 Bronze medals to its name at the ongoing Para Asian Games.

Meanwhile, former MP Baijayant Panda and Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan also took to Twitter to congratulate Jayanti on her success.

ଦେଶକୁ ଗୌରବାନ୍ୱିତ କରିଥିବା ଆମ ଓଡ଼ିଆ ଝିଅ ଜୟନ୍ତୀଙ୍କୁ ଅନେକ ଅନେକ ଅଭିନନ୍ଦନ ଓ ଶୁଭେଚ୍ଛା। ପ୍ରାର୍ଥନା କରୁଛୁ, ସେ ଆହୁରି ସଫଳତା ହାସଲ କରି ଦେଶକୁ ଓ ରାଜ୍ୟକୁ ଗର୍ବିତ କରୁଥାନ୍ତୁ। ???? @PandaJay#AsianParaGames2018#Odishahttps://t.co/I2CRmYvqOS

— Baijayant Panda Odia (@Panda_Odia) October 9, 2018

Heartiest Congratulations to Para Athlete Jayanti Behera for clinching Bronze Medal at @asianpg2018 in 200m Sprint Event. She has made India & Odisha proud with her determination. Her performance is an inspiration for all. https://t.co/qmlHenQwWv

— Dharmendra Pradhan (@dpradhanbjp) October 9, 2018

Jayanti who is a resident of Sakhigopal Gurukul in Puri district, had earlier won gold in the 400 metres race at the China Open Para Athletics Grand Prix by clocking a time of 1.02 minutes.

She had also won a silver medal at the 100 metres race at the Asian Youth Para Athletic Championship held in Dubai in 2017.