Bhubaneswar: The Odisha government on Tuesday felicitated 72 athletes for their exceptional performances at national and international competitions and bringing laurels for the state.
The awards were given awards to 72 athletes at a function, organised by the Sports and Youth Services department at the Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar. A total cash award of Rs 3,85,500 was presented to the athletes of nine disciplines.
Congratulating the athletes at the function, CEO, Hockey Promotion Council Odisha, Deepankar Mohapatra emphasised Odisha’s commitment to nurturing sporting talent. “It is a moment of immense pride for us to celebrate the achievements of our athletes who have shown determination and dedication to excel in their respective sports. The government is steadfast in its support for promotion of sports and is committed to encouraging and nurturing talent. We believe that with continued support, our athletes will bring even greater glory to the state and the nation,” he said.
Athletes from cricket were paid cash prizes of Rs 1,10,500, Sepak Takraw Rs 86,000, tennis ball cricket Rs 80,000, roll ball Rs 30,000, fencing Rs 20,000, kayaking Rs 25,000, table tennis Rs 26,000, handball Rs 4,500 and volleyball Rs 3,500.
Additional Secretary of the department BK Swain, joint secretary Sailendra Jena and other officials were also present at the function.