Post News Network
Cuttack, Sept 6: Orissa rowers representing SAI East Zone bagged a total of 14 medals in the SAI Kayaking and Canoeing Championship, which concluded at the Jagatpur SAI Sports Complex here Sunday. Orissa rowers performed splendidly individually to hog limelight but as a team their performance was not quite satisfactory.
Among Oriya rowers, Jajit Kujur was the star performer, who clinched eight individual medals including two silver and six bronze. He secured second positions in the K-1 senior 500 metres and Men’s 1000 metres K-1 categories. He bagged the bronze medals by securing third positions in the K-1 senior 1000 metres bronze, K-4 junior 1000 metres, K-1 junior 500 metres, K-4 junior 500 metres, K-1 senior 200 metres. He also finished third in the Junior 200 metres k-1 kayaking segment to win a bronze medal on the last day.
Sarojini Toppo won four medals including two silver and two bronze medals. She secured second positions in the Senior 500 metres kayaking k-1 and K-1 senior 1000 metres categories. She finished third in the C-2 Kayaking 500 metres senior and C-2 junior 500 metres segments.
Ranjan Barik and Rajendra Nayak won a bronze each in the C-2 canoeing men’s 1000 metres doubles skull and C-2 senior 500 metres events respectively.
SAI North emerged overall champions, while Army Sports Boys’ finished runners-up in the competition. In the men’s category, SAI South took the top honours, while SAI Centre secured the second position. SAI East finished third.
In the women’s segment, SAI South emerged champions with a total of 38 medals. Army Sports Boys’ finished runners-up with 27 medals and SAI East secured the third position with 26 medals.
Orissa Kayaking and Canoeing Association secretary Bipin Das and SAI, Cuttack Centre director Manoj Kumar Bhadra were present as the guests in the closing ceremony and distributed the prizes.
Altogether 80 participants from 15 SAI centres across the country took part in this three- day long meet.