Rasmita Sahoo’s Double Gold Powers Odisha to 2nd Place at Khelo India Water Sports Festival

Odisha delivered a spectacular performance at the inaugural Khelo India Water Sports Festival, securing second place overall on the medal table. The event took place on the scenic waters of Bhubaneswar from August 10 to August 15, 2025, featuring top athletes from across India competing fiercely.

Rasmita Sahoo’s Triumphs

Rasmita Sahoo stood out as the star athlete for Odisha, clinching two gold medals in kayaking events. Her victories were in the:

• 200m sprint kayak
• 500m single kayak race

Sahoo’s 200m sprint win featured a blistering finish, edging competitors by just 0.3 seconds. She dominated the 500m race with consistent speed and technique, earning her double gold status. She expressed her excitement, saying, “I trained hard for these games and am thrilled to bring glory to my state.”

Team Odisha’s Overall Performance

Odisha’s water sports team exhibited great depth with multiple podium finishes in rowing and canoeing, contributing to their second-place finish behind Kerala, which topped the medal tally. The team’s total medal count included:

1. 3 Gold Medals
2. 4 Silver Medals
3. 3 Bronze Medals

Notable performances aside from Sahoo included:

• Arjun Patel in men’s rowing single scull (silver medal)
• Meera Nair in women’s canoe sprint (silver medal)

Significance and Future Prospects

The festival was a critical platform for Indian water sports athletes to showcase their talent ahead of the upcoming Asian Games. Young athletes impressed both coaches and selectors, highlighting India’s growing strength in water sports.

Organizers received praise for the event’s smooth execution and competitive spirit, which attracted enthusiastic spectators and helped promote water sports across India. Local officials emphasized the importance of such festivals in nurturing sports culture and preparing athletes for international competition.

Fans took to social media to celebrate Odisha’s achievements, expressing pride in the state’s emergence as a strong contender in water sports.

The Khelo India Water Sports Festival is poised to become an annual highlight in the Indian sporting calendar, dedicated to fostering new talent and enhancing the visibility of water sports nationwide.

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