Odisha’s Madhusmita Jena, a high school teacher in Manchester, recently made headlines in the UK for completing the 42.5 km Manchester Marathon 2023 in a Khandu silk saree, a unique attire of her home state. Madhusmita, who is an active member of the North West England Odia community, challenged the pre-conceived notion that women cannot run in a saree. She often wears sarees during summers in the UK. Despite participating in marathons and ultra marathons across the globe, this was the first time Jena ran in a saree. The 41-year-old Jena, a native of Kusupur village, around 30 km away from Kendrapada, completed the marathon in 4 hours and 50 minutes. The Odia community in the UK is proud of Jena’s achievement, which showcased Odisha’s rich heritage. Sukant Kumar Sahu, trustee of UK Shree Jagannath Society and former secretary of Odisha Society of UK, commended Madhusmita for inspiring them with new feats and going an extra mile by running in a saree. Madhusmita Jena’s achievement is a proud moment for the entire Odia community in the UK.