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Host Odisha bagged a total of 14 medals, including eight on the second day of the 1st National Indoor Athletics Championship, which concluded at the Indoor Athletics Centre in Kalinga Stadium, Bhubaneswar today. The 14 medals featured four gold, seven silver and three bronze.
High jumper Swadhin Kumar Majhi and long-distance runner Dolamani Chirgun captured one gold medal each for Odisha today. Arpita Priyadarsini, Sukhi Baskey, Bapi Hansdah and Lalu Prasad Bhoi secured one silver each, while Naresh Rohidas and Aryan Ekka claimed one bronze apiece for the host state.
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Gurindervir Singh (Reliance) and Harita Bhadra (Maharashtra) emerged as the fastest man and woman of the championship respectively, winning the two gold medals in 60m sprint. The mens 60m final witnessed high drama as three competitors, including outdoor National champion and hot favourite Animesh Kujur were disqualified due to false start.
The unexpected exit of Chhattisgarh sprinter Kujur came as a major setback for Odisha, which has been promoting him better than all other home-grown athletes. Besides spending huge amounts of money for his training, coaching, diet, travelling, including foreign tour, Odisha Government also conferred him with the Biju Patnaik Best Sportsperson of the Year Award in 2025.
ODISHA MEDAL WINNERS:
Gold: Swadhin Majhi, Mens high jump, 2.18 metres.
Gold: Dolamani Chirgun, U-20 mens 3000m run, 8:39.13 seconds.
Silver: Arpita Priyadarsini, U-20 Womens 400m run, 1:00.48 seconds.
Silver: Sukhi Baskey, Womens 400m run, 55.67 seconds.
Silver: Bapi Hansdah, U-20 mens 400m run, 49.27 seconds.
Silver: Lalu Prasad Bhoi, Mens 60m run, 6.65 seconds.
Bronze: Naresh Rohidas, Mens triple jump, 13.92 metres.
Bronze: Aryan Ekka, Mens 400m run, 49.86 seconds.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------- PICS --------------------------------------------------------------------------
TOP: Odisha high-jumper Swadhin celebrates after winning the gold medal at the 1st National Indoor Athletics Championship in Bhubaneswar on 25 March 2026.
RIGHT: Odisha runner Dolamani Chirgun (Middle) poses with his U-20 3000m gold medal at the 1st National Indoor Athletics Championship in Bhubaneswar on 25 March 2026.
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