Odisha boy Sourav Putel added a glorious chapter to the swimming history of the State by winning three successive gold medals, along with a National Record in the 42nd Sub-Junior National Aquatic Championships, which concluded at SMS Stadium Swimming Pool in Jaipur, Rajasthan today.

The 14-year-old swimming phenomenon from Balangir district completed the hat-trick by winning the Group-II boys 50m breaststroke gold with a time of 31.02 seconds. He also set the National Record in this event, clocking 30.96 seconds in his heats earlier in the day. In the process, Sourav erased the previous National Record of 31.04, set by MS Nitheesh (Tamil Nadu) in 2024.

A cadet of Bhubaneswar-based Odisha IIS/JSW Swimming High Performance Centre, Sourav won his first two gold medals earlier in 100m and 200m breaststroke events, clocking 1:08.60 and 2:30.04 respectively.

The phenomenal achievements of Sourabh assumed added significance as he did it all on his debut (first appearance) in the Sub-Junior National Championships.

With these splendid achievements, Sourav, a student of PP Academy Government High School, Balangir, also justified the reputation of Odisha as a strong unit in the National domestic swimming structure of India.
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PHOTO: Odisha swimming phenomenon Sourav Putel poses with his 50m breaststroke gold medal at the 42nd Sub-Junior National Aquatic Championships in Jaipur on 9 August 2026.