National Games: Odisha Women's Rugby and Rima Bhoi Lead the Charge with Gold Medals

National Games: Odisha Women's Rugby and Rima Bhoi Lead the Charge with Gold Medals

Odisha's athletes delivered a stellar performance at the 38th National Games in Uttarakhand, with the state’s women’s rugby team and weightlifter Rima Bhoi leading the way to victory.

The Odisha Women's Rugby Team clinched the gold medal by defeating Bihar with a commanding score of 29-5 in the final. Earlier in the day, they had secured their place in the final by overcoming Maharashtra 31-5 in the semifinals. This victory marks their second consecutive gold in the Rugby 7s category. Captain Hupi Majhi expressed immense pride in the team's achievement, highlighting the dedication and hard work that led to this success. 

In weightlifting, Rima Bhoi brought home the gold in the Women's 59 kg category. She lifted 84 kg in the snatch and 105 kg in the clean & jerk, totaling 189 kg. This achievement marks Odisha's first medal in weightlifting at the National Games. 

Rima's victory was celebrated across social media platforms, with many congratulating her on this remarkable accomplishment. 

Cyclist Swasti Singh earned a bronze medal in the 60 km Road Mass Start event, finishing with a time of 1:45:10.769. She had narrowly missed a podium finish in the individual time trial, where she placed fifth. 

In Wushu, Riya Thakur secured a bronze in the Women's Gunshu (Taolu) event. Additionally, Manju Munda advanced to the finals in the Women's Sanda 45 kg category, showcasing Odisha's growing prowess in martial arts. 

The Odisha Women's Football Team continued their strong performance by defeating Tamil Nadu 2-0, with goals from Manisha Naik and Pratima Oram. This victory secured their spot in the semifinals.

Both the men's and women's Kho-Kho teams advanced to the finals, guaranteeing silver medals. The women's team triumphed over Karnataka with a score of 36-23, while the men's team defeated Kerala 32-26. These accomplishments underscore Odisha's commitment to sports development and the exceptional talent emerging from the state.