Bhubaneswar: The seventh edition of the Mettle Meet, hosted at Hotel Swosti Premium, saw DAV Public School of Unit-8 and AIIMS-Bhubaneswar emerge victorious in the junior and senior categories, respectively. This annual quiz competition once again delivered an exhilarating finale filled with intense competition.

In the senior division, AIIMS-Bhubaneswar, the defending champions, successfully fended off strong contenders IIT-Kharagpur and IIM-Calcutta, who secured the first and second runner-up positions. AIIMS maintained their lead throughout the finals, ultimately winning the title for the third time, having previously finished as runners-up in 2017 and 2019. IIM-Calcutta narrowly defeated National Law University (NLU), Cuttack, and NISER-Bhubaneswar in a tense tiebreaker to claim third place.

Meanwhile, in the junior category, DAV Public School, Unit-8 triumphed with a significant advantage over KIIT International School, while Loyola took home the third spot.

This year's event attracted over 80 teams from various schools and colleges across the state, with 16 teams (eight from each category) advancing to the finals after a competitive preliminary round.

Adyasha Satpathy, Chief Executive of the organizing body, remarked, "Mettle Meet has expanded significantly each year. It started in 2016 with just 18 teams, aiming to revive quizzing and provide a platform for young intellects. Today, it stands as a premier quizzing event in the state."

Echoing this sentiment, Tathagata Satpathy, Editor of a local publication, emphasized, "This event transcends mere question-answering; it encourages innovative thinking and intellectual growth. We appreciate quizmaster Ajay Poonia and all participants, especially those from outside Odisha, who recognized the event's growing prominence."

Poonia, a well-known quizmaster, commended the high standards of the competition, stating, "The champions — DAV Unit-8 and AIIMS Bhubaneswar — exemplified excellent preparation and quick thinking."

The finals were streamed live on digital platforms, attracting a substantial online audience. Winners in both categories received a cash prize of Rs 1,00,000, while the first and second runners-up were awarded Rs 50,000 and Rs 25,000, respectively.

Reflecting on their victory, Pratyush Dhal from DAV Unit-8 shared, "After winning last year, we began preparing for this edition the very next day. We took calculated risks, strategized, and effectively managed our lead."

Bighnesh Das of AIIMS-Bhubaneswar added, "This marks our third championship at Mettle Meet. It was a challenging match, with IIT-Kharagpur closely trailing us until the end. Once we gained the lead in the fourth round, we focused on maintaining it. Mettle Meet is an exceptional platform for quiz enthusiasts, fostering healthy intellectual competition."

PNN