Bhubaneswar, March 22: Odisha finished eighth in the 37th Sub-Junior National Archery Championship, which concluded at Kalinga Stadium yesterday, with one gold and two bronze medals.
Services Sports Control Board won overall title with 11 medals, including five gold, five silver and a bronze. Jharkhand finished second with 15 medals, including four gold, three silver and eight bronze, while Haryana finished third with eight medals to round off the top three.
The state's only gold came in the Indian round where the boys' team - consisting of Rajesh Durua, Surendra Murmu, Jitrai Ho and Surjyakanta Karjimajhi - won. Rupesh Darua of SAI Sundargarh won bronze in the boys' Indian round. Golap Nayak, Champa Hanhaga, Sakuntala Sabar and Salge Soren of the state's girls' team took bronze in the Indian round.
The championship had three rounds - Indian, Recurve and Compound - for boys and girls. This was the first time that the Odisha Archery Association hosted the event. Rupesh Darua said: "It was a great experience as we got to meet players from across the country. It is a proud feeling that the state is hosting national archery competitions."Around 500 players and officials from 30 states took part in the championship. Odisha SC and ST development minister Lal Bihari Himirika attended the concluding ceremony and handed over the medals. Despite Odisha's average showing, the state's archery association is optimistic about the sport's growing popularity. "We are trying to popularise it among the urban masses, who are more interested in cricket and football," said Odisha Archery Association secretary Sradhananda Das.
In another achievement for the state, Odisha cricket team captain Govinda Poddar has been included in the India Red team for the forthcoming Deodhar Trophy. The Rourkela resident scored 359 runs in 6 matches with two centuries and two half-centuries in the recently concluded Vijay Hazare Trophy. He has also scored 471 runs in nine matches in the ongoing Ranji trophy season, including two half-centuries and a century.
Former India international Parthiv Patel will lead the India Red side, while current international Rohit Sharma will lead the India Blue team. As holders of the Vijay Hazare Trophy, Tamil Nadu will also play in the three-team competition.
The 50-over tournament will be played in Visakhapatnam between March 25 and 29. Many cricket experts believe that the tournament will offer a good opportunity for cricketers to prove themselves ahead of the Champions Trophy 2017 team selection.
