Odisha swimmer Pratyasha bags two more Golds in Colombo

Odisha Sun Times Bureau
Bhubaneswar, Oct 22:

Odisha swimmer Pratyasha Ray today clinched two more Golds for the country in the ongoing South Asian Aquatic Championship (SAAC) – 2016 being held at Sri Lankan capital Colombo.

With the win today, her medal tally in the championship reached five with four Golds and one Silver.

Earlier on October 19, she had won three medals including two Golds and one silver. While the two Golds came from 4X100m relay event and 4X100 mixed relay event, she was placed second in the 50 metres backstroke swimming category of the event winning her Silver.

The event is being held at the Sugathadasa Swimming Pool Complex in Colombo. Hosted by the Sri Lanka Aquatic Sports Union (SLASU), the event started yesterday and will continue till October 23.

Seven SAARC countries including India, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Maldives, Nepal and Sri Lanka are participating in it.

With the Silver in Colombo, Pratyasha becomes the first Odia swimmer to have won an international medal in swimming.

Earlier this year, she became the first Odia swimmer to have won a medal at national level.

She had bagged three gold medals in 50m, 100m and 200m backstroke categories in the junior girls (13-14 years) events at the 43rd National Aquatic Championship held at Basavangudi Aquatic Centre in Bangalore in July.