Sports is an important part of the culture of Odisha and because of that it plays a key role in development of the state. Odisha has produced many players in the format of sports and they are succeed. Hockey, athletics, chess, and cricket is the most popular sports in the India’s state of Odisha. Our players showing their talent in any type of game. Odisha is also known as ‘Sports Capital.’
Sports teaches discipline, it teaches to play by the principles, in the planet of sports there is no place for religious, racial and political differences. The sport includes all kind of competitive physical activity.
In this article I’m discussing about 15 sports persons of Odisha who have made us proud & brought awards for India. These players are extremely talented and inspiration for many beginner.
Achievements:1. She is that the third woman to ever qualify for the women’s 100 meters event at the Summer Olympic Games in 2016. Also, won the tittle of the second-fastest runner in India. 2. She won the silver award for the state even at the country level at the Asian Games in Jakarta. 3. She is that the first woman runner from Odisha to win two medals, also Chief Minister of Odisha Naveen Patnaik offered her a cheque of rupees 3 crores for her excellency in sports.
Achievements:1. He played for India in 1996 Atlanta, Sydney 2000 and 2004 Athens Olympics has a complete of 412 international caps. 2. He is the first ever tribal who get Padma Shri Award. 3. He is the only Adivasi (tribal) to represent India in three Olympics. 4. 1995: 7th SAF Games at Madras (Champions). 5. 1997: Under-21 Test Series against Germany (Winners).
Achievements:1. She won her first National under-11 girls in 2005 at Nagpur and also won National under-13 girls in Kolkata. 2. She won the U14 girls’ section of both Asian and World Youth Chess Championship in 2008. 3. Gold medal in Asian Continental Women 2018. 4. Four-times consecutive National Women’s Premier Champion (2014-2017). 5. She holds the titles of International Master (IM) and Woman Grandmaster (GM) & She was honoured with the Biju Patnaik Sports Award for the year 2007 and the Ekalavya Award in 2009.
Achievements:1. He played in two Tests and 45 One Day Internationals between 1997 and 2001. On 24 December 2020, Mohanty was appointed as the national selector of the Indian cricket team. 2. Beginning at 1999 Cricket World Cup he was the second highest Indian wicket taker despite playing four games fewer than the leading Indian wicket taker – Javagal Srinath. 3. He played 17 ODIs and picked up 29 wickets at an average in the early 20s and climbed into the top 20 of the ICC ODI World Rankings.
5. Anshuman Rath
(Anshuman Rath)
Born: 5 November 1997 (age 24)
Birth Place: Satyanagar, Bhubaneswar, Odisha
Sport: Hongkong cricket player
Achievements:1. On 16 February 2017 in the 2015-2017 ICC World Cricket League Championship match against the Netherlands, he scored his maiden List A century and added 197 runs for the third wicket with Babar Hayat. 2. In December 2017, he scored his first century in an ODI match, when he made 143 not out against Papua New Guinea in the 2015-2017 ICC World Cricket League Championship. It was also the highest individual score by a Hong Kong batsman in an ODI match. 3. In June 2019, he was selected to play for the Edmonton Royals franchise team the 2019 Global T20 Canada tournament.
6. Deep Grace Ekka
(Deep Grace Ekka)
Born: 3 June 1994 (age 27)
Birth Place: Lulkidhi, Sundargarh, Odisha
Sport: Indian field hockey player
Achievements:1. She has 150 international caps and has scored 3 international goals. She doubles up drag flicker defending and winning performances at the 9th women Asia cup in japan last year. 2. Indian Hockey second match at Gold Coast 2018 against Malaysia in Commonwealth Games completed 150 international cabs. 3. She was a part of the Indian team that made history by winning the bronze medal for the first time in Women Junior Hockey World Cup at Monchengladbach in Germany on 4 July 2013. She was selected for Rio Olympics 2016, Brazil.
Achievements:1. She has appeared for Indian National team in more than 100 matches. She was a part of the Indian team that won the bronze medal in the Girls U-18 Asia Cup Hockey Championship at Bangkok, Thailand (25 September 2011). 2. Represented Indian senior women`s hockey team in the FIH World League (Round 2) at New Delhi from 18 to 24 February 2013. 3. She was a part of the Indian team that won the bronze medal for the first time in Women`s Junior Hockey World Cup at Monchengladbach in Germany on 4 July 2013.
8. Namita Toppo
(Namita Toppo)
Born: 4 June 1995 (age 26)
Birth Place: Sundargarh, Odisha
Sport: Indian field hockey player
Achievements:1. Namita has represented National Hockey team of India in more than 150 matches. On 27 December 2020, she was conferred with the prestigious 28th Ekalavya Award for her contribution to the game. 2. Helped India win the bronze medal in the Girls U-18 Asia Cup Hockey Championship at Bangkok, Thailand (25 September 2011). 3. She was a part of the Indian team that won the bronze medal for the first time in Women`s Junior Hockey World Cup at Monchengladbach in Germany on 4 July 2013. 4. She was a member of the Indian women hockey team that won the bronze medal in the 17th Asian Games at Incheon (South Korea) on 1 October 2014.
9. Birendra Lakra
(Birendra Lakra)
Born: 3 February 1990 (age 31)
Birth Place: Lachchada, Sundargarh, Odisha
Sport: Indian field hockey player
Achievements:1. He represented India in Men’s Hockey during the 2012 London Olympics. In Tokyo 2020 Summer Olympics, he has been selected as vice captain of Indian team and India won the historic bronze medal. 2. He represented India in the Test series against South Africa in 2012, in the Champions Challenge tournament in South Africa in 2011, at the SAAF Games at Dhaka in 2010, at the Youth Olympics at Sydney in 2009 and at the Junior World Cup at Singapore in 2009. 3. He scored the first goal in India’s victory in the final game of the Olympic Hockey Qualifying Tournament against France. He played a key role in taking India in to the semifinals of 2012 Champions Trophy.
10. Amit Rohidas
(Amit Rohidas)
Born: 10 May 1993 (age 28)
Birth Place: Saunamara, Sundargarh, Odisha
Sport: Indian field hockey player
Achievements:1. He was a part of the Indian squad that won the bronze medal at the 2020 Summer Olympics. 2. He started playing hockey in his village and joined the Panposh Sports Hostel in Rourkela in 2004. He was selected in the national junior team in 2009. 3. Rohidas was selected in the senior squad for the 2013 Asia Cup in Ipoh where the Indian team won the silver medal. He made a comeback to the Indian side in 2017.
Achievements:1. He is currently ranked world number one in para-badminton men’s singles SL3, and won a gold medal at the 2020 Summer Paralympics in Men’s singles SL3. 2. Won a bronze medal in both SL3 singles and SL3-SL4 doubles in 2019 Victor Denmark Para-Badminton International. 3. Clinched gold medals in both singles and doubles events at the 2019 China Para-Badminton International. 4. Earned silver medals in SL3 singes and SL3-SL4 doubles at the 2019 Thailand Para-Badminton International, held in Bangkok. 5. Bagged two gold medals in men’s SL3 singles and SL3-4 doubles events of the 2019 BWF World Para-Badminton Championships.
12. Ignace Tirkey
(Ignace Tirkey)
Born: 10 May 1981 (age 40)
Birth Place: Lulkidihi, Sundargarh, Odisha
Sport: Indian field hockey player
Achievements:1. Tirkey made his debut for the national side in February 2001 at the Akbar el Yom Tournament in Cairo against Belgium. 2. He was a member of Indian team that participated in the Athens Olympic in 2004, where India finished seventh. In club hockey, Tirkey played for Services. 3. Another highlight of his was in the Muruguppa Gold Cup in Aug 2001, where he scored a golden goal to win final, and thereafter in December 2002 during the National Games in Hyderabad.
Awards:1.Padma Shree (2010) 2.Arjuna Award (2009) 3. Ekalavya Puraskar (2003) 4. Services Sportsman of the Year (2004).
13. Sunita Lakra
(Sunita Lakra)
Born: 11 June 1991 (age 30)
Birth Place: Rajgangpur, Odisha
Sport: Indian field hockey player
Achievements:1. Sunita Lakra made her international debut in 2009, and has since then, cited as the backbone of the team. She was the part of the team in the 17th Asian Games and the Women’s Hockey World League Round 2. 2. Lakra was handed the responsibility to head the team as a captain in the Asian Champions Trophy women’s hockey, which began at Donghae City, Korea in May 2018, and led the team to a second position. 3. Lakra is a part of the 18 member squad which is playing in the 14th edition of the Women’s Hockey World Cup.
Achievements:1. At the 2010 Commonwealth Games, he won a gold medal in the Men’s 69 kg (152 lb) weightlifting category. 2. He won 3 gold medals in 2009 Commonwealth Games held at Penang, Malaysia. Then in 2010, he won 3 gold medals at the New Delhi Commonwealth Games. 3. He competed for India at the 2012 Summer Olympics, and won a silver at the 2014 Commonwealth Games in the 69 kg division.
Achievements:1. Srabani Nanda was at the Rio Olympics 2016, in the women’s 200m category. She won a gold medal and silver medal in 200 and 100 meter sprint respectively at the 2016 South Asian Games in Assam. 2. She had been part of the girls 4×100 meter relay gold in the 2008 Commonwealth Youth Games at Pune and she won a bronze medal in both the 100 and 200 meter sprint events of the SAF Games in Colombo in 2007. 3. In 2017 she won a bronze medal at the 2017 Asian Athletics Championships – Women’s 400 meters in Bhubaneswar. In the relay with Dutee Chand, Merlin K Joseph and Himashree Roy.
Hope you got know all the details about the 15 sports persons of Odisha who have made us proud and brought awards for India. Really they have made whole the nation proud. History will remember to them forever for their contribution towards the state, country and the entire world of sports. If you want more information related to this article please comment us.
