Bhubaneswar: Odisha’s school-level archers delivered an impressive performance at the 69th National School Games (SGFI) Under-17 Boys’ and Girls’ Archery Championship, securing four gold medals at the national event held in Ranchi, Jharkhand, from January 6 to January 10, 2026.
The championship, organised by the School Games Federation of India, witnessed participation from young archers across the country. Representing Odisha, a contingent of 18 athletes—comprising 11 girls and seven boys—competed under the banner of the Odisha State School Sports Organization, Department of School and Mass Education.
Leading the medal tally for the state was Rohit Kumar Marandi, a Class X student of UGP Government High School, Baripada, who clinched two gold medals in the 30-metre Indian Round and the 30-metre Olympic Round events. Rohit went on to secure his third gold medal in the Mixed Team Round, partnering with Reshma Mallick, a Class X student of KISS School.
Reshma Mallick’s contribution in the Mixed Team event added the fourth gold medal to Odisha’s overall tally, marking a significant achievement for the state at the national level.
The strong showing by Odisha’s young archers underscores the steady growth of school-level archery in the state.
Sports officials noted that the success reflects sustained grassroots development efforts and is expected to motivate aspiring athletes across Odisha’s schools to pursue competitive sports with greater enthusiasm.
