The Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology (KIIT), located in Bhubaneswar, India, has achieved a remarkable feat. Twelve of their students have successfully qualified to compete in the Paris Olympics 2024, which kick off on July 26th. This is a tremendous source of pride and joy for the entire KIIT institution.
KIIT has the distinction of being the first Indian university to send the largest contingent of athletes to the Olympics among all universities in the country. The qualified students represent a wide range of sporting disciplines. Amit Rohidas will be competing in men’s hockey, while Kishore Kumar Jena will showcase his talent in the javelin throw. Parul Chaudhary will compete in both the 3000m steeplechase and the 5000m races. Priyanka will participate in the 20-kilometer race walk and the marathon race walk mixed relay. Annu Rani is another KIIT javelin throw competitor. In the 100-meter event, Jyothi Yarraji will be hurdling. The Shot Put competition will see both Tajinderpal Singh Toor and Abha Khatua vying for glory. Prachi is poised to contribute to the 4x400m relay team, while Ankita will be competing in the 5000m race. Paramjeet Singh Bisht and Suraj Panwar round out the contingent, participating in the 20km race walk and the marathon race walk mixed relay teams, respectively.
At a special program in Bhubaneswar, Dr. Achyuta Samanta, the founder of KIIT and KISS, expressed his heartfelt congratulations to the outstanding athletes. He acknowledged their hard work and dedication, which has propelled them to this prestigious stage. Dr. Samanta also addressed the media, highlighting that KIIT & KISS holds the distinction of being the first organization in India to send the highest number of players to the Olympics. He elaborated that KIIT & KISS have had a rich history of nurturing Olympians and Paralympians. KIIT and KISS have fostered a total of 20 Olympians and 2 Paralympians who represented India at the 2016 Rio Olympics, the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, and the upcoming Paris Olympics. Additionally, Dr. Samanta took pride in mentioning that the institute boasts seven Arjuna Awardees, a prestigious Indian sports honor.
Dr. Samanta concluded by expressing his immense pride in the 12 KIIT students who will be participating in the Paris Olympics in 2024. He encouraged them to give their best shot and shine brightly with their achievements. He assured them of the unwavering support and cheers from the entire KIIT and KISS family.
