12 KIIT-DU students qualify for Paris Olympics 2024; founder awards Rs 7 lakh each

NEW DELHI: Twelve students from Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology - Deemed to be University (KIIT-DU) have qualified for the Paris Olympics 2024, starting July 26. As per the official press release, the founder of KIIT and KISS, Achyuta Samanta, has announced Rs 7 lakh reward to each of the athletes to encourage their success. All 12 athletes, currently training in Europe, participated virtually.

The athletes qualified in various disciplines include Amit Rohidas in Men’s Hockey, Kishore Kumar Jena in Javelin Throw; Parul Chaudhary in 3,000 metre and 5,000 metre steeplechase; Priyanka in 20 km Race Walk & Marathon Race Walk Mixed Relay; Annu Rani in Javelin Throw; Jyothi Yarraji in 100m Hurdles; Tajinderpal Singh Toor in Shot Put; Abha Khatua in Shot Put; Prachi in the 4x400m Relay Team; Ankita in 5,000m; Paramjeet Singh Bisht in 20km Race Walk and Suraj Panwar in the Marathon Race Walk Mixed Relay Team.

The founder of KIIT and KISS, Achyuta Samanta, congratulated the proud contingent at a special programme in Bhubaneswar, saying, “Your hard work and dedication have brought you to this prestigious stage.”

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According to the official press release, while informing the media, Samanta mentioned that KIIT and KISS have produced 20 Olympians and two Paralympians who represented India at the 2016 Rio Olympics, the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, and will be representing the country at the 2024 Paris Olympics. KIIT & KISS is proud to have seven Arjuna awardees, he added.

University officials, including Baljit Singh Sekhon (AIU), Saranjit Singh (KIIT-DU VC), Jnyana Ranjan Mohanty (KIIT-DU registrar), Sanjaya Kumar Garnaik (chief athletic coach), and Gaganendu Dash (KIIT-DU sports director), were also present during the felicitation.

This content was distributed by the KIIT-DU and has been published as part of Careers360’s marketing initiative.