The announcement of Odisha squad for the 64th National Inter State Senior Athletics Championship, scheduled to be held at Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Chenai from 20 to 24 August 2025, has created a controversy with an anonymous person alleging irregularities in the selection process.
Odisha Athletics Association (OAA) announced a 23-member State suqad, featuring 14 male and nine female athletes for the upcoming National Inter-State Championship yesterday. But the unidentified person claims that six out of the 23 athletes have been included in the squad without fulfilling the eligibility criteria.
The said person has witten a letter to the Commissioner-cum-Secretary, Sports & Youth Services Department (DSY), Government of Odisha with copy Chief Miniter, Sports Minister, Athletics Federation of India (AFI), OAA and World Athlete Intigrity Unit, seeking an immediate inquiry into the matter and appropriate corrective actions to ensure a transparent and merit-based selection.
In his/her allegation, the unidentified person has named Srabani Nanda, Sarun Payasingh, Mousumi Roy, Laxmipriya Kisan, Sabita Toppo and Manisha Merel as the six athletes who have not fulfilled the eligibility criteria clearly states by the AFI in its Circular No 49/06-2025, dated 21st June 2025.
According to the circular, only those athletes who have achieved the Entry Standards during AFI-recognized competitions held between 1st May 2025 and 10th August 2025 are eligible for participation National Inter-State championship. They can achieve the Qualification Standards during State Meets, organized by recognized state association, using online Entry System and TSR and one Meet organized by AFI (Indian Open Athletics Meeting/Grand Prix).
In case State Meet is not organized during the period then athlete must participate and achieve Qualifying Standard in two Meets organized by AFI (Indian Open Athletics Meet/Grand Prix Meets). But conducting the State Meet has been made for selection of athletes for National Inter State Championships.
However, the OAA, when contacted, rejected the allegations, saying that the selection of athletes was fair and has been done as per the guidelines of the AFI. “Our selection committee, featuring Olympian Anuradha Biswal, eminent coaches Arun Kumar Das, Nila Madhab Deo, Chitta Ranjan Mohapatra and Abhay Mohapatra, finalised the squad,’’ said OAA secretary Avijit Paul.
But according allegation, since the OAA did not conduct the State Meet within the period mentioned in the AFI circular, Odisha athletes were required to compete in two meets organized by AFI and the six athletes did not do so.
When pointed out, the OOA secretary stated that some athletes achieved the Entry Qualification Standard during the State Selection Trial, which was conducted on 2 August 2025. “Our State Meet was last conducted in September 2024. This year, the same is scheduled to be held in December. For the purpose of National Inter-State Championship, we conducted the selection trial,” he clarified.
Meanwhile, it has been learnt from reliable sources that the State squad was finalised in the absence of the selection committee members. Images of their signatures were obtained through mobile phone and used as approval for the preparation of the final list of selected athletes.
In his/her representation, the unnamed person also questioned the inclusion of Haryana javelin thrower Vikrant Malik in the Odisha squad, three days after he represented his home state in the World Continental Tour Bronze Meet at Bhubaneswar on August 10.
When his reaction was sought, OAA secretary Paul said that Malik earlier represented Odisha and won medal for the state in both Nation Inter-State and National Open meets last year. “He participated in the State selection trial and represented Odisha in the WCT Bronze meet,’’ added Paul
But official documents of both AFI and OAA were found to be contradictory. In the list of Indian athlete for the WCT Bronze Meet, released by AFI, the state and department names of Malik were mentioned as Odisha and Haryana respectively. But as per the results document, he represented Haryana (India). Similarly, Malik represented Bhubaneswar in the State selection trial. But in the Odisha squad for National Inter-State, his unit name was written as KIIT. How?
The anonymous sperson has further alleged that a disproportionate number of athletes from Odisha-Reliance Athletics HPC have been included in the Odisha squad. “One is left to wonder if this is an orchestrated attempt to influence the DSYS under the guise of boosting participation and medal tallies, rather than upholding fair selection based on merit and eligibility.’’
ODISHA SQUAD:
MEN: 1. Animesh Kujur, Bhubaneswar (200m, 4X100m relay), 2. Dondapati Mrutyam Jayaram, Kalahandi (100m, 200m, 4X100m relay), 3. Lalu Prasad Bhoi, Kalahandi (4X100m relay), 4. Amiya Kumar Mallick, Bhubaneswar (100m, 4X100m relay), 5. Sarun Payasing Kalahandi (100m, long jump, 4X100m relay), 6. Pratik Maharana, Bargarh (100m WC, 200m, 4X100m relay), 7. Dayanidhi Munda, Sonepur (800m, 1500m, 4X400m relay), 8. Vikrant Mallik, KIIT (Javelin), 9. Astik Pradhan, Cuttack (400m, 4X400m relay), 10. Malaya Barik, Bargarh (4X400m relay), 11. Bhima Sardar, Jajpur (4X400m relay), 12. Hari Shankar Panigrahi, Bhadrak (4X400m relay), 13. Swadhin Kumar Majhi, Angul (High jump), 14. Abhinash Sahu, Sundargarh (100m WC).
WOMEN: 1. Srabani Nanda, Bhubaneswar (100m, 200m, 4X100m relay), 2. Binati Behera, Bhubaneswar (100m, 4X100m relay), 3. Mousumi Roy, Bargarh (100m, 4X100m relay), 4. Bonita Lakra, Odisha Police (4X100m relay), 5. Laxmipriya Kisan, Bhubaneswar (400m, 800m), 6. Sabita Toppo, Bhubaneswar (4X100m relay), 7. Divya Sandilya, Paradip Port (Hammer), 8. Manisha Merel, Keonjhar (Long jump), 9. Pragyan Prasanti Sahu, Balasore (100m hurdles, 4x100m relay).
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PHOTO: File picture of Haryana/Odisha javelin thrower Vikrant Malik.