Odisha sprint queen Srabani sets sight on Rio Olympics

Odisha Sun Times Bureau
Bhubaneswar, Jul 15:

Ace woman sprinter of Odisha Srabani Nanda today said her next goal is to qualify for the Summer Olympics scheduled to kick off in Rio de Janeiro in Brazil on August 5 next year.

“As I have one year’s time left for the Olympics, I will try to put my best foot forward to qualify for the mega event. I have been immensely benefited by the overseas training in South Africa and Australia with top athletes, which has raised my level of confidence much higher. After having a couple of days of relaxation, I will join the training camp which is underway,” she told reporters after her arrival here from triumphant outing that saw her winning seven medals, including five in international events.

Later in the day, Srabani met chief minister Naveen Patnaik at the State Secretariat here and told him about her experience in the recently concluded Asian Athletic Championship and Asian Grand Prix events where she bagged five bronze medals.

Describing Srabani as the pride of Odisha and an inspiration for the budding athletes of the state, the chief minister wished her all success in the Rio Olympics.

Apart from winning five bronze medals in the two international events, Srabani had won two gold medals in 200-metre sprint and 4X100 metre relay race in the just concluded Inter State National Athletics at Chennai.