Bhubaneswar: Medal winners of the recently concluded 19th Asian Games-2023 at Hangzhou and 31st World University Games-2023 at Chengdu, China were felicitated at a function in KIIT campus in Bhubaneswar on Sunday.
The felicitation ceremony was organised in the honour of KIIT and KISS students winning medals in the two Games. Financial incentives of Rs 5 lakh each was given to Tajinderpal Singh Toor, Asian Games Gold Medalist (Shot Put) and Amit Rohidas, Asian Games Gold Medalist (Hockey).
Similarly, Rs 3 lakh each was given to Kishore Kumar Jena, Asian Games Silver Medalist (Javelin Throw) and Tejaswin Shankar, Asian Games Silver Medalist (Decathlon) and Rs 2 lakh each to Amlan Borgohain, World University Games Bronze Medalist (200M) and Priyanka, World University Games Bronze Medalist (20 KM Race Walk Team).
Odisha’s first Olympian Anuradha Biswal, veteran footballer and coach of Odisha Women Football Team Shradhanjali Samantray, Olympian Dutee Chand and fastest man of India Amiya Mallick, secretary Odisha Rugby Association Upendra Mohanty, KIIT-KISS Founder Achyuta Samanta, Vice-Chancellor of KIIT-DU Prof Saranjit Singh and Director General, Sports, KIIT-KISS Gaganendu Dash felicitated the sportspersons.
Speaking on the occasion, Samanta said the sports scenario in Odisha has changed under the leadership of Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik. “Following in the footsteps of the government, KIIT and KISS reach out in case of any issues with the sportspersons and help them. KIIT & KISS have produced 15 Olympians and more than 5,000 sportspersons,” he added.
As many as 14 students of KIIT Deemed-to-be-University represented India in the recently concluded Asian Games, 2023 and four of them won medals. Similarly, 18 students from three Universities of Odisha, including 14 students from KIIT, participated in the World University Games, 2023 in Chengdu, China. Two KIIT students won the bronze medals, said Gaganendu Dash.
Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology (KIIT) and Kalinga Institute of Social Sciences (KISS), Bhubaneswar have been promoting sports since their inception not only in the interest of their students, but also for the cause of Odisha’s imprints as a sports loving state.
