Kalanjoor (Pathanamthitta): Devapriya, a native of Athirunkal, will take part in the World University Rowing Championship to be held from July 4 this year in the Netherlands. Five Malayalis, including Devapriya, got selected from the National Rowing Trial held in Punjab for the World Championship.

Daughter of Dileep Athirungal, a former block panchayat member, and Prashantha, Devapriya hails from a hilly village in Athirunkal with no facilities for swimming or rowing. She qualified for the World Championships by obtaining training from the Alappuzha District Sports Council. 

She was selected for the sports council's training when she was studying in the ninth grade and continued her training there. 

She is currently a final-year B.Com. student at St. Joseph's College, Alappuzha. Devpriya has won gold medals at the 2022 National Games held in Ahmedabad and the Sub-Junior Interstate Challenger National Rowing Championship held in Srinagar.

Sania (Alappuzha), P.B. Ashwathi (Kannur), and Alina Anto (Wayanad) from the Sports Authority of India, V.J. Arundhati (Thrissur), and Devapriya from the Sports Council will participate in the World University Rowing Championship.