The department

The Sports Director, Siddhartha Das, Jt Secretary Ranjit Parida, Head Coach, Odisha Reliance Foundation Athletics HPC, Martin Owens and officials of the Sports & Youth Services Department gathered at the Biju Patnaik International Airport, to extend their enthusiastic welcome to this remarkable athlete, who has made his state and country immensely proud.

Kishore Jena, with his incredible talent and relentless dedication, has carved his name into the annals of history as the first athlete from Odisha to represent India in the finals of the prestigious World Athletics Championship, that recently concluded at Budapest. He emerged to be in the top five in the finals there thus making an impression amongst the athletics fraternity of India.