Rourkela: The 55th Regional Sports Meet (Badminton) of the Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan (KVS), Bhubaneswar Region, concluded successfully on Friday (June 26, 2026) at the Indoor Sports Complex, NIT Rourkela. The three-day tournament, hosted by Kendriya Vidyalaya NIT Rourkela under the leadership of Principal P. Neeraja, witnessed enthusiastic participation from students representing 40 Kendriya Vidyalayas across the Bhubaneswar Region.
The tournament featured boys’ and girls’ competitions in the Under-14, Under-17, and Under-19 categories. The event was inaugurated by K. Umamaheswar Rao, Director, NIT Rourkela, who graced the occasion as the Chief Guest. Addressing the participants, he encouraged the young athletes to uphold the values of discipline, dedication, and sportsmanship while striving for excellence both on and off the court. The inaugural ceremony was also attended by Surajit Das, Chairman Nominee of the Vidyalaya Management Committee (VMC); Anil Singh, VMC Member; Rajiv Panda, President, Student Activity Centre (SAC), NIT Rourkela; and Hemalata Nayak, Principal, KV Bondamunda.
Over the next three days, participants displayed remarkable talent, determination, and competitive spirit through a series of exciting matches. The tournament served as a platform to promote sportsmanship, teamwork, and healthy competition among young athletes.
The valedictory ceremony was graced by Rajiv Panda, President, Student Activity Centre (SAC), NIT Rourkela, as the Chief Guest. Other dignitaries present included J. Shiva Raman, Vice President, SAC; Hemalata Nayak, Principal, KV Bondamunda; C. Alagesan, Sports Officer, SAC; Nalini Nihar Nayak, Senior SAC Officer; and Preetam Mishra, SAC Assistant, NIT Rourkela.
Congratulating the winners, Rajiv Panda wished them success in the forthcoming national-level championship and assured them of full support from the Student Activity Centre, NIT Rourkela, in nurturing young sporting talent.
Appreciating the successful conduct of the tournament, Principal Neeraja commended the participants for displaying exemplary sportsmanship and thanked the escort teachers for their dedication toward the students. She also expressed gratitude to the Student Activity Centre, NIT Rourkela, and the organizing team of Kendriya Vidyalaya NIT Rourkela for their wholehearted efforts in making the event a grand success.
The selected players will represent the KVS Bhubaneswar Region at the KVS National Badminton Meet, scheduled to be held at Lovely Professional University (LPU), Jalandhar, from July 15, 2026.
| Category | Champion | Class | School | Runner-up | Class | School |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Under-14 Girls | Barenya Patel | VIII | PM SHRI KV No. 1, Shift-I, Bhubaneswar | Aaradhana Beberta | VII | PM SHRI KV Koraput |
| Under-17 Girls | Jaya Verma | X | PM SHRI KV No. 1, Shift-I, Bhubaneswar | Muskan Panda | IX | KV Khariar |
| Under-19 Girls | Daya Patel | XII | PM SHRI KV No. 2, Bolangir | Anncy Angel Gaen | XI | PM SHRI KV Khurda Road |
| Under-14 Boys | Shashvit Reddy | VIII | KV Rourkela | Sai Aditya Kumar Sethi | — | — |
| Under-17 Boys | Aranyak Das | X | PM SHRI KV No. 1, Sambalpur | Ashutosh Mishra | XI | PM SHRI KV No. 1, Shift-II, Bhubaneswar |
| Under-19 Boys | Avdhesh Kumar Goel | XII | PM SHRI KV Bhawanipatna | Satyam Mahto | XII | KV Rourkela |
Note: The class and school details of the Under-14 Boys runner-up (Sai Aditya Kumar Sethi) were not provided in the source information and may be added before publication.
