Students from Odisha achieved remarkable success at the 69th National School Games (SGFI) Under-17 Boys’ and Girls’ Archery Championship, held in Ranchi, Jharkhand, from January 6 to January 10, 2026.
This national-level competition, organised by the School Games Federation of India, saw Odisha’s young archers deliver an outstanding performance, securing a total of four gold medals for the state.
A contingent of 18 athletes represented Odisha under the banner of the Odisha State School Sports Organisation, part of the Department of School and Mass Education. The team included 11 girls and 7 boys.
Rohit Kumar Marandi, a Class X student at UGP Government High School in Baripada, Odisha, clinched two gold medals in the 30-meter Indian Round and the 30-meter Olympic Round events. He also won a third gold medal in the Mixed Team Round, partnering with Reshma Mallick, a Class X student from KISS School. In total, Rohit Kumar Marandi earned three gold medals, while Reshma Mallick contributed one gold medal to Odisha’s tally.
This historic achievement highlights the growing strength of school-level archery in Odisha and is expected to inspire and encourage young sporting talent throughout the state’s schools.
The success reflects ongoing efforts to nurture grassroots sports and provide competitive exposure to promising athletes.
