Odisha claims ultimate victory at Under-18 National Lawn Bowls

Odisha claimed the top prize in the Under-18 category at the recently concluded National Lawn Bowls Championships. Playing on home soil, the state contingent secured five medals, bringing home three golds, one silver, and one bronze. Competitors showcased their skills at the Bowling Greens courts of the R. N. Singh Deo Sports Complex in Bolangir. Hosting such national tournaments significantly boosts the growth of lesser-known sports in the region.

Gold Medal Performances

Rajeshwari Seth delivered a standout performance in the Under-25 girls' singles event. She defeated Soni Kumari Gupta from Jharkhand with a decisive 21-8 scoreline. This impressive display earned her the prestigious individual overall champion title. In the mixed doubles for the same age group, Siddharth Aryan Sahu and Padmasini Putel worked together to secure another gold. They completely outplayed the Rajasthan pair of Dinesh and Monika Somra with a final score of 21-11. Meanwhile, Roshni Sahu added a third gold for the hosts in the Under-18 girls' singles by easily overcoming Jharkhand's Pihu Kumari 21-6.

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Silver and bronze finishes

Other local players also made their mark on the podium during the multi-day tournament. Sujnyanendra Sarangi fought hard in the Under-18 boys' singles final but narrowly missed the top spot. He took home the silver medal after a tight 20-21 match against Assam’s Praneet. In the Under-25 boys' singles, Shubhranshu Dang earned a well-deserved bronze medal for his efforts. Thanks to these consistent podium finishes, Odisha successfully lifted the team trophy for the Under-18 division. Jharkhand showed strong form to take the top spot in the Under-25 category. Local leaders, including Balangir MLA Kalikesh Narayan Singh Deo and Indian Lawn Bowls Federation officials, attended the closing ceremony to distribute the medals.