Bhubaneswar: The 48th Junior National Aquatic Championships 2022 has kick-started at Biju Patnaik Swimming Pool inside the iconic Kalinga Stadium here on Saturday.
This is the first ever national aquatics event being organized in Odisha.
A total of 853 athletes from 30 states and UTs are participating in this five-day swimming extravaganza.
A 20-member Odisha Swimming Team is participating in the championship.
Taking to Twitter Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik expressed his hope that the state contingent will take advantage of playing at home and bring laurels.
Delighted to share that 48th Junior National Aquatic Championships 2022 is underway at Biju Patnaik Swimming Pool inside #KalingaStadium, #Bhubaneswar. Hope our state contingent will take advantage of playing at home & bring laurels. Wish the event all success. #OdishaForSports pic.twitter.com/nrOaVIYrPO
— Naveen Patnaik (@Naveen_Odisha) July 16, 2022
Tusharkanti Behera, Sports Minister of Odisha inaugurated the 48th Junior National Aquatic Championships 2022.
Sports Secretary R. Vineel Krishna; CMD, Glenmark Pharma, Glenn Saldanha; President, SFI, R N Jayprakash; Secretary, SFI, Monal Choksi; Working President of Odisha State Swimming Association Soma Mishra and General Secretary Golapmani Mahanta were present during the inauguration.
The 48th Junior National Aquatic Championships 2022 will serve as a selection trial for the next edition of the Khelo India Youth Games. The swimming Federation of India (SFI) will also identify swimmers for a long-term national programme aimed at preparing swimmers for the 2024 Paris Olympics.