Barbil: In a record medal haul by JSPL-Foundation-backed Wushu athletes so far, the participants won 28 gold medals in the recently concluded 26th State Wushu Championship held at Belpahad in Jharsuguda district from 17th to 19th August.
The team comprising 34 male and 22 female athletes have won seven Silver and 12 Bronze medals in the event’s Sanshou fight category. For the stunning performance, the team was adjudged 1st runner-up in Sanshou & Taolu events.
With 47 medals, this is the highest ever medal tally by the athletes in any State level event.
Congratulating the team, JSPL Barbil Unit Head Shri Suresha G said, “I am extremely delighted with the performance of the athletes. With their sincere and wholehearted effort, the team is doing better in each passing event. I wish they bring more laurels for the State and the country”.
Mentionably, the youngest in the team Shri Okil Munda (10) and Ms Malini Munda (12) have claimed Gold in 20kg category. Ms Swetarani Mahanta (10) has won Gold in 28kg category.
Team coach Shri Pankaj Kumar Mahanta and team manager Shri Purindar Giri have also expressed happiness over the great show by the athletes. The gold medal winners have been selected to participate in the National Wushu C’ship to be held later in the year, informed Mahanta.
On the occasion, World Wushu C’ship Silver medallist Shri Babulu Munda, coach Shri Pankaj Kumar Mahanta and Wushu Association of Orissa president Shri S.S. Harichandan were felicitated by Jharsuguda district Wushu Association.
JSPL Foundation has been supporting tribal youths from Barbil for learning and practicing Kick-Boxing, Judo and Wushu by providing all infrastructure and coaching facilities. These talents have also participated in many national level championships and brought laurels for the state. Recently, 13-year-old Babulu Munda bagged silver medal in the 42 kg sub-junior category of Sanshou discipline at 7th World Wushu Championship in Brazil.
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