Odisha women cycling stars Swasti Singh and Khoirom Rejiya Devi won a total of three medals for host KIIT University in the All India Inter University Track Cycling Championship, which was held at the Minati Mohapatra Cycling Velodrome, KIIT University, Bhubaneswar, from 10 to 13 March 2025.

Swasti secured one silver medal each in women 3 km individual pursuit and scratch race, while Rejiya claimed one bronze medals in women 3 km individual pursuit. BA Psychology student of KIIT University, Swasti bagged one gold medal with Games Record, two silver and two bronze medals at the 38th National Games last month in Uttarakhand.

She also came close to winning a medal by finishing second in the elite women individual pursuit qualification competition of the Asian Track Cycling Championship later that month in Nilai, Malaysia. But to her utter disbelief, she was disqualified for technical reasons.

Around 400 cyclists from 41 universities participated in the All India Inter University Track Cycling (Men & Women) Championship 2025, which was held under the aegis of the Association of Indian Universities (AIU), with the support of the Cycling Federation of India and Odisha Cycling Association (OCA).

Atharva Patil (University of Kerala) and Pooja Dhanole (Guru Nanak Dev University) was awarded as the best male and female cyclists respectively. Guru Nanak Dev University clinched a double, winning both the men and women overall team gold medals.

University of Kerala and Savitribai Phule Pune University secured the silver and bronze medal respectively in men overall team category, while overall silver and bronze in womens team category went to Bengaluru North University and Chandigarh University respectively.

The closing ceremony was graced by chief guest Prof (Dr) Saranjit Singh, Vice-Chancellor, KIIT University, along with OCA president and cycling Arjuna Awardee Minati Mohapatra, Prof (Dr) Jnyana Ranjan Mohanty, Registrar, KIIT University and OCA general secretary Prasanna Rout.

But competitors were not happy with the quality of the 250m concrete cycling velodrome in KIIT, which was inaugurated earlier on 9 January 2025.
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PHOTO: Women 3km individual pursuit medal winners (L-R) Swasti Singh, Pooja Baban Danole and Khoirom Rejiya Devi pose with guests and officials at the All India Inter University Track Cycling Championship in Bhubaneswar on 10 March 2025.