Sprinter Sonia Baishya of North Dinajpur has bagged the gold medal at the women's 4x400 metres women’s relay race at the 101st edition of the Sri Lanka Athletics National Championship 2023.

The championship was held in Colombo from July 28 to July 30. Along with Sri Lanka, athletes from India and Maldives also participated in the event.

The Indian women’s team for the relay event, comprising Sonia, Aishwarya Mishra, Subha V. and Himanshi Malik secured the gold medal, said sources. Altogether, the Indian squad that had joined the event, ended with a total of 14 medals, nine gold, four silvers, and a bronze.

The success of Sonia, who hails from Netajipally of Raiganj, has made her family and town proud, said her father Baren Baishya, a businessman.

“Since childhood, she wanted to establish herself as a successful athlete. She participated in a number of national and international events and won many medals and trophies. She has again proved herself in this meet,” her father said.

From Sri Lanka, Sonia left for the national athletics camp in Pune, he added. “She is practising hard and wants to prove herself at the upcoming Asian Games,” he said.

The Asian Games will be held in Hangzhou, China, from September 23.

Arvind Kumar Meena, the district magistrate of North Dinajpur, lauded Sonia.

“It is indeed a feat to bag gold at the championship in Sri Lanka. We hope she will prove her mettle again at the Asian Games,” said Meena.