Bhubaneswar: The second day of the 61st Odisha State Swimming Championship concluded today at the world-class Biju Patnaik Swimming Pool Complex within the Kalinga Stadium here. Despite the challenging conditions due to ensuing Cyclone Gulab, the all-weather pool pulled off a successful state meet owing to the recent renovation to this iconic facility and the efforts of the Odisha Swimming Association and Sports and Youth Services Department, Government of Odisha.

A total of 198 athletes of participants from 16 districts competed in 140 events over the two-day meet.
Mannata Mishra, Divyanka Divyajyoti Pradhan, Jadu Budek won 10 medals each, competing in both junior and senior categories while Pratyasa Ray and Shubrahnsh Patra won five medals each in the seniors category.

On the first day of the Championship, Mannata Mishra made it to the Nationals in 50m Breaststroke event.

This edition of the State Swimming Championship is by far the best organised meet opined a guardian of a participating swimmer. The awe-inspiring pool will add aspirational value for budding swimmers and will also propel the future of those training here.

Odisha has the potential to produce medal prospects in Swimming and discipline and continuity in training is key. Keeping this in mind, the Sports Department has renovated the swimming pool to ensure that swimmers can train without any hindrance to training routine while also having allied facilities including physiotherapy and sports science within their access.