The Chief Minister expressed his congratulations to Amit Rohidas, acknowledging his outstanding performance and calling him an inspiration for youngsters not only across Odisha but also throughout India.

“Amit Rohidas’ remarkable achievements exemplify the spirit of perseverance and excellence. He has become a symbol of hope and pride for aspiring athletes in our state and beyond. His success story resonates with every individual striving to achieve greatness, and we are immensely proud of his accomplishments,” he said.

Amit Rohidas, a true son of the soil from the hockey-rich region of Sundargarh in Odisha, had proudly earned himself an Olympic Bronze Medal at the Tokyo Olympics 2020, an official release said on Saturday.

Amit Rohidas, a product of Odisha’s rich sporting culture, honed his exceptional skills at the Panposh Sports Hostel in Rourkela. With an impressive track record of over 150 caps, Amit emerged as an integral cog in India’s campaign in Hangzhou, serving as the first rusher and displaying remarkable strategic acumen. His pivotal goal in the semi-final against Korea, propelled the Indian team towards the final and the coveted gold medal.

Reflecting on her journey, Manaswini said, ‘Throughout the competition, I faced challenging conditions, battling heavy rain and strong winds. My coach, Sabir Bux, provided unstinted support and pushed me to overcome my fears as I dedicated myself to rigorous practice.’

She is now aiming for a gold medal in the National Sailing Championship scheduled for October. Her ultimate goal is to represent Odisha and India on the international stage in sailing competitions in the near future.

Manswani’s coach, Sabir Bux, a Limca record holder and international scuba diver said, “My journey with Manaswini began in 2009, and her commitment to her aspirations and her exemplary sportsmanship have been nothing short of inspiring. At this moment, she is diligently preparing for the upcoming national-level championship, and I have every confidence that she will continue to excel on this remarkable journey.”

Manaswini has won over 13 gold medals in sailing competitions. She secured a gold at the Bangkong Open Sailing Competition. She has participated and achieved top positions in several other competitions across India, including the Indian Navy Sailing Championship. The Government of Odisha recognised her achievements by awarding her the Biju Patnaik Kanya Ratna for representing Odisha at the National Games.

Each Asian Games-bound athlete will receive Rs 10 lakhs each, to support their training, preparation, and participation, a CMO release said.

The CM expressed hope that the athletes will showcase their talent at the Games and this incentive will help them to focus solely on their training and performance.

Notably, 13 athletes from Odisha have qualified for the multi-sport event that features the best athletes from all across the Asian continent. They are Kishore Jena in Athletics; Anshika Bharati, Ritu Kaudi and Sonali swain in Rowing; Anupama Swain in Ju-Jitsu; Neha Devi Leichondam in Kayaking & Canoeing; Pyari Xaxa in Football; Deep Grace Ekka and Amit Rohidas in Hockey and Dumuni Marndi, Tarulata Naik, Mama Naik, and Hupi Majhi, four Odisha Rugby Football Association (ORFA) players, who have been named in the Indian squad.

The 19th Asian Games was initially slated to be held in September 2022. However, it was postponed to the following year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. A total of 634 Indian athletes will be taking part in Hangzhou 2022.