20th National Athletic Meet ends with gala cultural show

Bhubaneswar :(VISAKEO): The four-day long 20th National Athletic Meet organised by Bidya Bharati came to an end with a warm ceremony here in the premises of the Kalinga Stadium on November 27. Purbi Uttar Pradesh Khetra came out first in the medal tally with 36 gold medals s, 18 silver and 3 bronze medals and secured 259 points. Paschimi Uttar Pradesh and Dakshin-Dakshin with 130 points and Madhya Khetra with120 points and secured the second and third position in the meet. Madhya Khetra with 108 points got 4 th position. Uttar Khetra with 105 points and Bihar Khetra were estimated with 105points and 92.50 points respectively. In Individual event, Anuj Kumar of Purbi Uttar Pradesh Khetra and Neha Singh from the same zone became the champions in boys' and girls' category in the under-17 events. Where as Samprthi Alva from Dakshin-Dakshin Madhya Khetra also got the championship award in the under-17 girls' category. In the under-19 boys' and girls' category Virendra of Uttaar Khetra and Preeti Singh of Madhya Khetra with Smrithi Pathania of Uttar Khetra shared the championship award respectively. Also Siddhant Mohapatra the junior chess maestro and woman athlete Anuradha Biswal earned memos from the Governor MC Bhandare, who graced the gala closing ceremony. State Revenue and Civil Supplies Minister Manmohan Samal, KIIT Deemed University Chancellor Achyut Samanta, Western Orissa Development Council Chairman Prof Niranjan Panda,, Organising Secretary Bidya Bharati Brahmadev Sharma were among those witnessed the closing ceremony. Secretary SBS Dr Prafulla Chandra Mohapatra coordinated the function. More than 600 participants from all corners of the country were enjoyed the meet. Earlier on November 24, Masal rally meant for the athletic meet, was brought from Gadchandi temple in Cuttack was kicked off by State Higher Education Minister Sameer Day, RSS State Prantapracharak Ajit Prasad Mohapatra, Cuttack Mayor Nibedita Pradhan, Orissa Cricket Association secretary Ashirbad Behera, Hindu Jagaran Sa,ukhya president Harihar Nanda and RSS State joint secretary Gopal Chandra Mohapatra were among those offered floral tributes at the statute of Chakhi Khuntia, the legendary hero of the 1857 freedom struggle, at Kalpana square here in the State Capital . With the participation of 40 students, the flame was carried to the stadium. An opening song performed by 200 students, reverberated the whole stadium. Vice-President SGFI Nilamadhab Nanda graced the opening day. State Sports Minister Debasis Nayak, President Sikhya Bikas Samiti Dr Prafulla Chandra Mohapatra and secretary Ramesh Chandra Tripathy were present.