17 Odisha Reliance Foundation High Performance Centre athletes set to make a splash at Junior National Athletics Championships
By Payal Banarjee
Bhubaneswar, Dec.7: The 39th Junior National Athletics Championships, being hosted in Bhubaneswar from 7th to 11th December, will see participation from 17 Odisha Reliance Foundation High Performance Centre who will be eager to shine on their home territory.
Among the athletes in action will be Bapi Hansda (400m), Mahendra Santa (100m & 4x100m), DM Jayaram (100m, 200m and 4x100m relay), Sabita Toppo (100m hurdles) and Laxmipriya Kisan (800m and 1500m), who have all been among the medals and in fine form of late. Ommkar Prasad Nanda (discus throw and shot put), Astik Pradhan (200m, 400m and 4x400m) Rajendra Sidhu (110m hurdles and 4x100m) and Swagat Behera (triple jump) will also be in action at the competition. All four of Jayaram, Santa, Toppo and Kisan medaled at the SAAF Junior Athletics Championships, with Kisan also going to medal at the Indian Open U-23 Athletics Competition.
Speaking about the preparations of the contingent, Martin Owens, Head Coach at the Odisha Reliance Foundation Athletics High Performance Centre (HPC), said, “We had performance graded races for our athletes as preparation. Mahendra clocked a timing of 10.66s in the 100m there, which is the 2nd fastest by an Indian junior athlete. We are really excited to see what he can do. Astik has also been shaping up really well and is one to keep an eye on. The 4x100m relay team really impressed and we’re hoping that they carry the baton around safely. Sabita won the 100m hurdles event at the Police Games last month and is in great shape. Laxmi showed great format the SAAF Games and we hope she can continue that.”
The Junior National Athletics Championships will be held at the Kalinga Stadium, which also houses the Odisha Athletics High Performance Centre.
The Odisha Reliance Foundation Athletics HPC is a landmark collaboration between the Odisha Government and Reliance Foundation. The partnership is committed to elevating the quality of athletics across Odisha and fostering local talent capable of succeeding both nationally and internationally.
The objective of the HPC is to become Asia’s most innovative High-Performance Centre, creating a destination for young talent and identifying and nurturing them and to maximize their potential at the elite level. The HPC is one of the finest athletic facilities in South Asia, boasting the South Asia’s first indoor athletics stadium. This state-of-the-art infrastructure enables athletes to train year-round and is critical in producing world-class performances.
The HPC has already produced champion athletes like Animesh Kujur, the reigning U23 100m and 200m champion in India, and rising stars such as Bapi Hansda, DM Jayaram, Sabita Toppo and Mahendra Santa, who have qualified for major tournaments like the World Junior Championships and Asian Youth and Junior Championships alongwith the Commonwealth Youth Games. These athletes have thrived under the HPC’s 360-degree support system, which provides support in the areas of sports science, nutrition, psychology, education, and sports medicine, ensuring holistic development.
