Ani Salbam won the seventh and last medal for Odisha with a bronze in U-16 boys 600m run with a time of 1:19.94 seconds today. Bargarh sprinter Pratik Maharana proved to be the most successful Odisha athlete, winning the all-important gold in U-20 mens 200m run and a silver in 100m run.

Pratik established a new meet record in 200m run, and also qualified for the World Athletics U-20 Championship to be held in Eugene, USA from 5 to 9 August 2026. Pratik is a disciple of athletics coach Siba Mishra and trains at Birsa Munda Stadium in Rourkela. He is also mentored by Olympian Dutee Chand.

Though Odisha fielded a strong squad of 75 athletes, many among them did not compete. The absence of Bapi Hansda and Astik Pradhan, the two prominent trainees of Odisha Reliance Foundation Athletics HPC, raised eyebrows. Despite getting all the support and facilities, the HPC athletes could not win a single gold medal. It was Pratik Maharana, who spared Odisha the blushes, winning the lone gold and a silver.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------- PICS ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
TOP: Odisha boy Ani Salbam poses with his bronze medal at the 40th National Junior Athletics Championships in Bhubaneswar on 14 October 2025.
RIGHT: Odisha sprinter Pratik Maharana celebrates after winning the U-20 mens 200m gold with new meet record at the 40th National Junior Athletics Championships in Bhubaneswar on 13 October 2025.