Odisha Sun Times Bureau
Bhubaneswar, Apr 28:

Odisha sand artist Sudarsan Pattnaik yesterday won the gold medal at ninth Moscow Sand Sculpture Championship-2016 titled "The magical world of sand".

Sudarsan Pattnaik moscow

He had built a 15 feet sand sculpture on Mahatma Gandhi showcasing his endeavour for non-violence and peace.

The week-long sand sculpture competition that was held between April 21 and 27 at Moscow’s Kolomenskoye was attended by twenty top sculptors from across the world.

"I am proud to have won the Championship for my country. The Director of sand art festival PaveI Minilkov presented the gold medal and the trophy. It is a great moment for me," said Pattnaik after winning the medal.

Notably, the 39-year old Padma Shri awardee Sudarsan Pattnaik is a world-renowned sand artist, who won the World champion title at USF World sand sculpture championship in Berlin in 2008. He has also won the People’s Choice Award at Berlin five time -- which is a record.

Besides, he has participated in over 50 international sand sculpture championships across the world winning many laurels.

Pattnaik runs a sand art school in Puri.