In a thrilling display of skill and determination at the Pragativadi State-Level Table Tennis Championship, Somanath Soumya Ranjan Subudhi from Saheed Nagar Government High School emerged as the boys’ category champion, while Asna Aditi from St. Joseph High School claimed the girls’ title.
The event, held at the Pragativadi Amrit Mahotsav Hall on Sunday, showcased young talents from across Odisha vying for glory in this grassroots sports initiative.
The boys’ final pitted Somanath against Vishnu Prasad Behera of Capital High School in a hard-fought battle that kept spectators on the edge of their seats. The match, marked by intense rallies and strategic plays, ended with Somanath securing a 3-1 victory. He dominated the first game 11-6, followed by a narrow 11-8 win in the second. Behera fought back fiercely to take the third game 11-8, but Somnath sealed the deal in the fourth with another 11-6 triumph, clinching the championship. “It was a tough match, but I stayed focused,” Somnath said post-victory. Behera, gracious in defeat, earned the runners-up spot and received a runners-up trophy.
In the semifinals, Hitesh Agrawal from DPS Kalinga and Soumyajit Pradhan from Saheed Nagar Government High School were eliminated. Shubhangshu Mohan Sahu from Bhubaneswar St. Joseph High School was honoured as the best performing player in the boys’ category for his outstanding contributions throughout the tournament.
The boys’ category featured a strong lineup of 25 participants, including Somnath Soumya Ranjan Subudhi and Soumyajit Pradhan (Shaheed Nagar Government High School), Vishnu Prasad Behera (Capital High School), Ankita Mallik, Naitik Bhala (DPS Kalinga), Arnav Das (Unit-9 KV-1), Jayastu Dasgupta (DPS Kalinga), Jagan Sethi (Unit-9 Government Boys’ High School), Ruturaj (MBS Public School), Subrat Kumar Sahu (Maharshi College), Shubhangshu Mohan Sahu, Shubham Muduli, Om Prakash Nayak, Shubham Pradhan, Swaraj Mahanti, Suryakant Behera, Saurabh Mahapatra (MBS Public School), Bikram Mahanti (Shaheed Nagar Government High School), Hitesh Agrawal (DPS Kalinga), Suvit Pradhan (Venkateswar English Medium School), Shriyansh Jena (KV No-1), Ritesh Mahapatra (MBS Public School), and Ayushman Pati (DPS Kalinga).
Shifting to the girls’ category, Asna Aditi delivered a commanding performance in the final against Sushree Pattnaik from BJB College, sweeping the match 3-0 in a one-sided affair. Asna edged out the first game 12-10, cruised to an 11-7 win in the second, and wrapped up the third 12-10 to claim the crown. Pattnaik, though outmatched, showed promise and walked away with the runners-up honours.
Semifinal exits came for Ankita Dalei from Rama Devi Women’s University and Sameeksha Prasad from ODM Public School. Shivangi Prasad from Bhubaneswar KV No. 1 was recognised as the best performing player in the girls’ category.
The girls’ draw included 10 competitors: Shreya Shubhadarshini (St. Xavier’s High School), Sushree Pattnaik (VJB College), Aradhya Pradhan, Vidita Mahanti, and Shivangi Prasad (Bhubaneswar KV No-1), Sameeksha Prasad (ODM Public School), Asna Aditi (St. Joseph High School), Ankita Dalei (Rama Devi Women’s University), Arunadhati Mahapatra (Bhubaneswar KV-3), and Shubhashree Mahapatra (Bhubaneswar KV-1).
The championship was smoothly officiated by referee Divyashakti Mohanty and umpire Dwarikanath Swain, under the supervision of chief referee Ankita Khank. The event emphasised fair play and sportsmanship, aligning with Pragativadi’s mission to nurture talent at the grassroots level.
A prize distribution ceremony is slated for the near future at the Pragativadi campus, where winners will receive certificates and cash prizes, and all participants will be awarded participation certificates.
Pragativadi Sports 2025 has been a resounding success, incorporating a diverse array of disciplines, including cricket, carrom, chess, table tennis, badminton, yoga, and musical chairs. This multi-sport extravaganza underscores the organisation’s commitment to fostering athletic development from the ground up, inspiring the next generation of Odia sports stars.
