Odisha farmer’s daughter, Kalpana Jena, has brought pride to her state by winning a silver medal in the 2 km time trial cycling event at the Special Olympics World Summer Games 2023 held in Berlin. Kalpana, whose father is an agriculture farm labourer named Gadadhar Jena, completed the race in 5 minutes and 42.42 seconds, securing the second position. She was only surpassed by fellow Indian athlete Shivani, who claimed the gold medal with a time of 5 minutes and 22.41 seconds.

Kalpana, hailing from Athagarh in Cuttack district, developed her cycling skills under the guidance of Satbir Singh Sahota from Jharkhand, a renowned multiple National champion. Following her selection to represent India at the Special Olympics World Summer Games, Kalpana trained under the supervision of district coach Bibekananda Mohanty. India’s overall medal tally at the Games surpassed 50 on Wednesday, with cyclists contributing significantly to the achievement. The cycling team earned a total of 6 medals, including 3 gold, 2 silver, and 1 bronze, showcasing their exceptional performance and talent.