Despite the ongoing dispute in Karate Association of India (KAI), Odisha has bagged a total of eight medals in Sub-junior and Senior National Karate Championships, organised by warring groups at different cities this week. The medals include four gold, one silver and three bronze.
Valena Valentina, the most successful karateka of the state, clinched one gold medal in women open kata event of the KAI Senior National Championship, held at Nehru Indoor Stadium in Chennai on 10 and 11 June 2019.
Meanwhile, a 47-member squad, fielded by Odisha State Karate-do Association (OSKA) bagged as many as seven medals in the KAI Sub-junior and Senior National Karate Championships, which was organised simultaneously by another group at Talkatora Indoor Stadium, New Delhi from 10 to 13 June 2019.