Odisha’s para swimmers made a splash at the National Para Swimming Championship 2025 in Hyderabad, returning home with an impressive 39 medals — including 8 gold, 18 silver and 13 bronze — marking one of the state’s strongest performances in recent years.
The medal-winning contingent was felicitated on Wednesday by Sports and Youth Services Minister Suryabanshi Suraj, who hailed their achievements as a proud moment for Odisha.
A total of 32 para swimmers represented Odisha at the championship. In the run-up to the event, the Para Sports Association of Odisha conducted a 15-day intensive training camp at the Kalinga Stadium HPC Swimming Pool. Under the guidance of expert coaches Sunita Bahidar and Purna Chandra Sethi, athletes trained together in a structured and competitive environment, a preparation that played a crucial role in their medal-winning performance.
Praising the athletes, the Minister said, “The outstanding performance of our para swimmers is a source of inspiration for every sportsperson in the state. Their success at the national stage has made Odisha proud. I am confident that they will continue to excel and bring glory to the state in future national and international competitions.”
The athletes attributed their success to improved training facilities, strong support from the state sports department and rigorous preparation ahead of the championship.
Meanwhile, India’s rising para swimming star Himanshu Nandal dominated the national stage. Competing from November 15–18, he clinched three gold medals in the S11 category (100% visual impairment) and was honoured with the prestigious ‘Best Swimmer Award’ for his exceptional all-round performance.
Himanshu excelled in all three technically demanding events he entered. He struck gold in the 50m Freestyle, clocking 30.22 seconds, followed by a commanding victory in the 100m Breaststroke with a time of 1:23.78. He completed his golden hat-trick with a decisive win in the 100m Backstroke, recording approximately 1:14.00, reaffirming his dominance in the S11 category.
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