24th National Para-Athletics: Haryana Emerges Champion In Bhubaneswar

(MENAFN- AsiaNet News)

Haryana Emerges Champion at National Para-Athletics

The 24th National Para-Athletics Championships 2026 concluded at the iconic Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar here on Saturday. The closing ceremony was attended by Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi and Minister for Sports & Youth Services, Suryabanshi Suraj, who honored the top-performing states for their remarkable achievements.

After four days of intense competition involving over 1,400 athletes, Haryana emerged as the overall champion, leading the medal tally with 95 medals, including 39 gold. Tamil Nadu finished as runners-up with 51 medals, while Gujarat came in third with 30 medals. Host Odisha finished a respectable 5th overall, boosted by gold and silver medals from star athletes Suchitra Parida, Jayanti Behera, and Janaki Oram.

Odisha Reaffirms ‘Sports Capital’ Tag with Future Events

During his address, Chief Minister Majhi reaffirmed Odisha’s position as the “Sports Capital of India” with several major announcements. The CM assured that the Kalinga Stadium complex will continue to expand, ensuring all types of advanced sports infrastructure are available for para-athletes and general athletes alike. He stated that the Odisha government is fully prepared to provide comprehensive support to host any national or international sporting event.

Bhubaneswar Awarded 2028 World Indoor Championships

The CM also confirmed that Bhubaneswar will host the World Athletics Indoor Championships in 2028. This will be the first time India hosts a global track and field championship. “Odisha has arrived on the global stage. We are ready to showcase our organizational skills and Indian hospitality to the world in 2028,” said CM Majhi.

The World Athletics Council selected Odisha in India and Astana in Kazakhstan to host the World Athletics Indoor Championships in 2028 and 2030, respectively, during a two-day meeting on Wednesday and Thursday (March 18-19). The events were awarded during the 240th World Athletics Council Meeting held in Torun, Poland, ahead of the World Athletics Indoor Championships Kujawy Pomorze 2026. The decision to award the 2028 World Athletics Race Walking Team Championships to Hefei in China was also made during the meeting. (ANI)

(This story has not been edited by Asianet Newsable English staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)