14 Athletes from KIIT & KISS Set to Shine at Asian Games 2023

Bhubaneswar, Sept 15: Fourteen students of KIIT and KISS are poised to represent the nation at the forthcoming Asian Games 2023 in Hangzhou, China from September 23 to October 8.  Notably, KIIT & KISS takes immense pride in being the sole academic institution in India to send the largest contingent of players to the Asian Games.

The participants are C A Bhavani Devi (Fencing - Women's Sabre and Team Sabre events), Amit Rohidas (Men's Hockey Team), Sajan Prakash (Swimming), Anshika Bharti (Women's Lightweight Double Scull Rowing).

In Athletics, Priyanka will carry India's hopes in the Women's 20 KM Race Walk, while Sandeep Kumar, Kishore Jena, and Tejinder Pal Singh Toor will do the same in the Men's 20KM Race Walk. The Rugby 7s Women's Team includes Dumuni Marndi, Tarulata Naik, Mama Naik, and Hupi Majhi. The other athletes are Tejaswin Shankar (Decathlon) Amlan Borgahain (Athletics - 200m event), as shared by Dr. Gaganendu Dash, Director General of Sports at KIIT. Remarkably, it is a matter of great pride that four players from KISS alone will represent the Indian Rugby team.

Commending these remarkable athletes, Dr. Achyuta Samanta, the Founder of KIIT & KISS, emphasized that these individuals not only bring honour to the institutions but also to the entire state of Odisha. Dr. Samanta lauded the unwavering support of Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik in the promotion of sports and athletes, highlighting the recent announcement of cash rewards for Asian Games participants, with seven recipients originating from KIIT & KISS. Dr. Samanta expressed heartfelt gratitude to the Chief Minister for his visionary commitment to sports' growth in the region. Additionally, he praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi's efforts in fostering sports, athletes, and creating a dynamic sports environment in India.

Dr. Samanta also underscored the pivotal role played by KIIT & KISS in nurturing sports, building world-class sporting infrastructure, and producing over 5,000 athletes who have excelled at regional, national, and international levels.

KIIT takes immense pride in its distinction of producing 13 Olympians, a remarkable feat that sets it apart as the only university in India with such an illustrious roster. These Olympians encompass a diverse range of sports, including Athletics, Fencing, Hockey, and Swimming, and are a testament to KIIT's unwavering commitment to sports excellence.