Odisha women rowers Sonali Swain and Ritu Kaudi have been selected to represent India at the 19th Asian Games, which would take place in Hangzhou, Chaina from 23 September to 8 October 2023. Both the rowers are international medallists, honing their skills at SAI National Centre of Excellence, Jagatpur, Cuttack.

In fact, four rowers of the Jagatpur SAI NCoE have been chosen to represent India in the upcoming Asian Games. The other two are: Anshika Bharti and Parminder Singh. Anshika and Parminder belong to Madhya Pradesh and Haryana respectively.

Anshika, however, has the credibility of winning medals for Odisha and KIIT University. Both Sonali and Ritu will take part in women coxed eight event. Parminder will compete in mens double scull and quadruple scull, while Anshika will vie for honours in womens lightweight double scull.

Odisha women have the reputation of making glorious contribution to the rowing history of India. Odisha duo of Pratima Puhana and Pramila Prabha Minz scripted the history by becoming the first two Indian women to win a medal in the Asian Games in 2010.

Inmates of the then SAI Watersports Centre, Jagatpur, Cuttack, Pratima and Pramila bagged one bronze medal in 2000m coxless pair, clocking 7:47.50 at the 16th Asian Games in Guangzhou, China on 19 November 2010.
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PHOTO: Undated file picture of Odisha woman rowing international Ritu Kaudi (Left) and Sonali Swain.