Odisha Shines at the 24th National Para Athletics Championship with 17 Medals
Odisha's Impressive Performance at the Championship
The 24th National Para Athletics Championship concluded successfully at Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar, Odisha, on Saturday. The host state showcased an outstanding performance, securing a total of 17 medals, which included 5 golds. Among the notable athletes was Suchitra Parida, who claimed gold in the Women's Javelin Throw F56, yet expressed a sense of disappointment.
In an interview, Suchitra shared, "While I am pleased with my achievement, I can't shake off the disappointment. My last throw reached 18.29 meters in 2025, and I aimed to break that record this year. Unfortunately, my throw was only 17.80 meters. I've gained some weight, which has affected my running speed, leading to this outcome."
She added, "The trials for the Asian Games are set for June or July, giving me time to prepare. In practice, I've managed throws of 19.60 meters, and I believe I can lose the extra weight in the next three months. My main goal this year is to secure a medal at the Asian Games."
Haryana dominated the championship, finishing as the overall champion with an impressive 95 medals. Tamil Nadu followed in second place with 51 medals, while Gujarat took third with 30 medals.
Chirag Tyagi, a para-athlete from Uttar Pradesh, excelled by winning gold in both the 400m T12 and 100m T12 events. Reflecting on his performance, he stated, "I kicked off my season with a time of 49.69 seconds. Last year, my best was 50.50 seconds at the Khelo India Para Games, where I also won gold. This year, I aim to break the Asian Record with a time of 48.42 seconds. Our preparation is a balance of 50% athlete effort and 50% coach guidance, involving various training methods like weight training and hill workouts. Injury prevention is crucial for our progress."
The championship saw participation from 1,460 para-athletes across 28 states, including teams from the Border Security Force (BSF) and the Services Sports Control Board (SSCB), competing in 145 medal events.