Odisha’s rising track star Pragyan Prasanti Sahu delivered a memorable performance at the World Athletics Continental Tour Bronze meet held at the iconic Kalinga Stadium on Sunday evening, clinching the gold medal in the Women’s 100m Hurdles.The 25-year-old athlete from Balasore, who has often competed in the shadow of national record-holder Jyothi Yarraji, showcased her composure and technique to perfection. Clearing the hurdles with fluid precision, Pragyan crossed the finish line in 13.74 seconds, delighting the large home crowd that had gathered to witness top-class athletics action in Odisha.

Her closest competitor, Nandini Konghan of Tamil Nadu, finished just behind in 13.80 seconds, while Anjali C from Kerala claimed bronze with a timing of 14.00 seconds. While Pragyan’s gold was the highlight for the home state, another Odisha sprinter, Lalu Prasad Bhoi, narrowly missed a podium finish in the Men’s 100m final. Clocking 10.54 seconds, Bhoi finished fourth, just behind bronze-medallist Danish Iftikhar (10.50 seconds). The men’s sprint title was claimed by Muhammad Azeem of Malaysia with a timing of 10.35 seconds, while Chamod of Sri Lanka secured silver in 10.43 seconds. In the Women’s 100m sprint, Odisha’s Srabani Nanda had to settle for fifth place after finishing in 11.86 seconds, in a highly competitive field.

The event, part of the World Athletics Continental Tour Bronze circuit, brought together elite athletes from across India and several international competitors, offering fans in Bhubaneswar a rare opportunity to witness world-class track and field action. For Odisha, Pragyan’s victory served as a moment of pride and a sign of the state’s growing presence in Indian athletics.