Bhubaneswar, January 7, 2026: Students from Odisha have achieved remarkable success at the 69th National School Games (SGFI) Under-17 Boys’ and Girls’ Archery Championship, held in Ranchi, Jharkhand. The national-level competition, organized by the School Games Federation of India, took place from January 6 to January 10, 2026. Odisha’s young archers delivered an outstanding performance, winning a total of four gold medals for the state.
A contingent of 18 athletes represented Odisha under the banner of the Odisha State School Sports Organization, under the Department of School and Mass Education. The team comprised 11 girls and 7 boys.
Rohit Kumar Marandi, a Class X student of UGP Government High School, Baripada, Odisha, clinched two gold medals in the 30-meter Indian Round and the 30-meter Olympic Round events. Rohit added a third gold medal in the Mixed Team Round, partnering with Reshma Mallick, a Class X student of KISS School. With this, Rohit Kumar Marandi won three gold medals, while Reshma Mallick contributed one gold medal to Odisha’s tally.
This historic achievement highlights the growing strength of school-level archery in Odisha and is expected to inspire and encourage young sporting talent across the state’s schools. The success reflects sustained efforts in nurturing grassroots sports and providing competitive exposure to promising athletes.
