Bhubaneswar: The 24th National Para Athletics Championship concluded at Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar, with Haryana emerging as the overall champion, followed by Tamil Nadu and Gujarat in second and third positions respectively.
Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi attended the closing ceremony and felicitated the winning athletes, encouraging them to continue striving for excellence in their sporting careers. Addressing the participants, he said that while victory and defeat are part of sports, para athletes are true winners for overcoming life’s challenges and turning their limitations into strengths.
The Chief Minister extended his best wishes to all athletes and urged them to bring glory to the nation in upcoming international events, including the Asian Para Games. He also specially congratulated the 40-member Odisha contingent for their performance.
According to an official release, Majhi highlighted the importance of perseverance and encouraged athletes to follow the path of accomplished sportspersons such as Paralympic medallist Pramod Bhagat and V. Ramesh Rao. He added that greater success awaits them and urged athletes to showcase their best performances on the global stage, bringing recognition to Odisha’s sporting talent.
A total of 1,460 para athletes from 28 states participated in the championship. Haryana secured the top position with 95 medals, while Tamil Nadu and Gujarat followed with 51 and 30 medals respectively.
Odisha delivered a commendable performance, winning a total of 17 medals, including five golds.
The Chief Minister also noted that Odisha has emerged as a prominent destination on the global sports map and announced that Bhubaneswar will host the World Indoor Athletics Championships in 2028, presenting another major opportunity for the state.
He reiterated the government’s commitment to strengthening sports infrastructure, identifying talent, and promoting training and hosting of national and international sporting events. He also acknowledged the support of Prime Minister Narendra Modi in advancing sports development in India and Odisha.
The event was attended by Sports and Youth Services Minister Suryabanshi Suraj, Sports Department Secretary Sachin R. Yadav, Paralympic Committee General Secretary Jaywant G.H., Para Athletics President Satyanarayana, and Para Sports Association of Odisha President Kamalakanta Rath, among others.
