The 24th National Para Athletics Championship came to a grand close at the iconic Kalinga Stadium here today, with Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi felicitating the winners and praising their remarkable spirit of resilience.
Haryana topped the medals tally with 95 medals to claim first place, followed by Tamil Nadu in second with 51 medals and Gujarat in third with 30 medals. Host state Odisha delivered a stellar performance, securing 5 gold medals and a total of 17 medals.
Addressing the athletes during the closing ceremony, Chief Minister Majhi said, “This is not just about sport. You are true winners who have conquered the struggles of life itself. By turning your weaknesses into strengths, you have shown the world what real victory looks like.” He extended special congratulations to the 40 athletes from the Odisha contingent and urged them to continue their hard work.
The Chief Minister encouraged all participants to aim for glory in the upcoming Asian Para Games and to deliver their best on the global stage. “Success is waiting for you. No one can stop you now,” he declared. He also asked the athletes to draw inspiration from Olympic medallists like Pramod Bhagat and V. Ramesh Rao and to keep striving for excellence.
Highlighting Odisha’s growing prominence in the international sports arena, Majhi announced that Bhubaneswar will host the prestigious World Indoor Athletics Championships in 2028. “This is yet another golden opportunity for Odisha,” he said.
He reiterated the state government’s commitment to sports development through world-class infrastructure, talent identification, training, and hosting of national and international events. The Chief Minister expressed gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his continuous support in elevating sports across India and Odisha.
Also present on the occasion were Sports & Youth Affairs Minister Suryabanshi Suraj, Sports Secretary Sachin R. Yadav, Paralympic Committee General Secretary Jaywant G. H., Para Athletics President Satyanarayan, and Para Sports Association of Odisha President Kamalakanta Rath.
A total of 1,460 para-athletes from 28 states competed in the championship.
