Reliance Foundation Athletes clinch Six Medals At Khelo India Youth Games 2024
- Odisha team ends runner up in the overall boys championship
Mumbai : Reliance Foundation’s youthful athletes made a significant impact at the Khelo India Youth Games in Tamil Nadu, securing an impressive total of six medals, comprising three golds, two silvers, and one bronze. Notably, they also clinched a silver medal in the overall boys’ event championship in athletics, held this year in Tamil Nadu.
Among the six athletes representing Reliance Foundation at the Games, an impressive five emerged as medalists. Ommkar Prasad Nanda showcased remarkable prowess by clinching two golds in the shot put and hammer throw events. His exceptional performances included a shot put throw of 18.48m and a hammer throw covering a distance of 65.08m.
The promising Mohammad Reyan Basha continued to dazzle, securing gold with a swift time of 10.81s in the men’s 100m event. Additionally, he contributed to the Odisha 1000m sprint medley team’s silver medal victory, alongside fellow Reliance Foundation athlete Rajendra Sidhu.
Expressing his delight at the achievement, Reyan stated, “I am thrilled to have won a gold at this esteemed tournament. This victory boosts my confidence as I transition to the senior level. I am grateful to my coach and the support staff at the Odisha Reliance Foundation Athletics High-Performance Centre. Our rigorous preparation has paid off, and this result is a testament to our hard work.”
The remaining two medals were secured by Sunita Santa, who claimed bronze in the women’s 2000m steeplechase event with a time of 7:21.16s, and hurdler Sandeep Gond, who achieved silver in the men’s 110m hurdles with an impressive time of 13.89s.
Commenting on the outstanding performance, Martin Owens, Head Coach at Odisha Reliance Foundation Athletics High-Performance Centre, expressed his satisfaction, “We had a remarkable Khelo India Youth Games. Our athletes delivered exceptional performances. Ommkar’s double gold within two hours was remarkable. Meanwhile, Reyan’s victory in the 100m race contributed to our three gold medals on the second day of athletics competition. Sunita also demonstrated commendable performance, and with further refinement, she has the potential to vie for gold in her event at the Youth National Games. I am immensely proud of the dedication shown by all our athletes, which resulted in Odisha securing a silver in the overall boys’ championship. I extend my gratitude to the coaches and staff who supported the Odisha team. We will leverage these experiences and aim for gold in our future endeavors.”
