More than 500 competitors from 15 states are participating in the 4-day 27th Indian Association of Kickboxing Organisations (IAKO) National Kickboxing Championship for 2022 which was inaugurated in the Siksha ‘O’ Anusandhan (SOA) campus here on Thursday.

SOA Chancellor Prof. Debi Prasad Ray declared the championship open as the audience was treated to some live demonstrations by kickboxing competitors.

This is the fifth time that the championship is being held in Odisha. The 26th Junior and Sub-Junior championships are also being staged alongside the senior competition.

Besides Prof. Ray, the inaugural function was also graced by SOA’s acting Vice-Chancellor Prof. Bijay Kumar Sahu, National President of IAKO Mr. S.S. Harichandan, President of All Odisha Kickboxing Association Mr. Sivanand Ray, Chairman of the Organising Committee Mr. Prabodh Mohanty, ITER’s Additional Dean (Student Affairs) Dr. Renu Sharma and SOA’s Sports Officer Ms. Sunita Barma.

Among others, Rotary District Governor Mr. Prabhudat Subudhi, President of Rotary Club, Bhubaneswar Mr. Srichandan Mishra, Technical Director for the championship Mr. Pradyumna Behera and Organising Secretary Mr. Pruthwiraj Harichandan were present.

The last championship was held in December 2021 at Jodhpur in Rajasthan in which Odisha had claimed the Team Runner Up title.