Bhubaneswar: The Odisha chief minister, Naveen Patnaik, Thursday presented the Biju Patnaik Sports Award to Para Badminton World Champion Pramod Bhagat and Biju Patnaik Bravery Award to little girl Srimati Bhadra of Ghantapada in Angul district for saving her friend from an accident while risking her own life. He gave them cheque of Rs 2 lakh each as Award money and citations.
Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik felicitated eight persons and a private institution with Biju Patnaik Sports, Bravery and Social Service awards, here at a function in Jaydev Bhawan on Thursday.
The Para Shuttler World Champion was also given a cash amount of Rs 30.95 lakh as reward for winning gold medal in BWF World Para badminton championship (singles and double), gold medal (singles and double) in 3rd National Para Badminton Championship 2019 and bronze in mixed double event in 3rd National Para Badminton Championship 2019.
Similarly, sprint queen Dutee Chand was rewarded with Rs 6.67 lakh for winning gold medal in 100 metre event in 30th World University Games.
Three Weightlifters, Bhakta Ram Desti, Jhili Dalbehera and Senha Soren, were given cash award of Rs 1.33 lakh,Rs 4 lakh and Rs 83,000 respectively for outstanding performance in international sports events. While Bhakta Desti was rewarded for gold medal in 49 kg youth U17 Championship 2019, Jhili received the amount for gold medal in 45 kg women event, commonwealth weightlifting championship 2019 and Soren was felicitated for silver medal in 45kg junior U20 women event commonwealth weightlifting championship 2019.
Sportsperson Babulu Munda was rewarded with Rs 42,000 for winning silver medal in Junion Asian Wushu Championship this year.
Leading private university KIIT University founded by Rajya Sabha MP Achyuta Samanta was also conferred Biju Patnaik Sports Award for best contribution to promotion of sports and games.
Moreover, six personalities included Radhakant Tripathy, Badri Mishra, Mahendra Kumar Joshi, Kamakshya Prasad Majhi, Ram Narayan Dash and Abdul Rahman Khan were awarded the Biju Patnaik State Award for social service. They received Rs 25,000 cash prize each.
He said that the Bhubaneswar city is emerging as Sports Capital of the country. He said after successfully conducting the Asian Athletic Championships, World Men’s Hockey League Final and World Cup Men’s Hockey, the State is going to host Women(Under 17) Hockey World Cup in Bhubaneswar. According to him Bhubaneswar has got the international recognisation in hosting international sports events.
The chief minister said that the his government is roping in international reputed training institutes in foot ball, tennis, badminton and other sports to train up promising sports persons of the State.
The state sports minister, Tushar Kanti Behera, sports secretary Vishal Dev, director sports Veneel Krishnan, and advisor to youth welfare board working president Bijaya Nayak were present on the occasion.
