Bhubaneswar: Odisha government on Saturday felicitated athletes with cash awards for their performance at the recently concluded Khelo India Youth Games 2023.
Sports Minister Tusharkanti Behera honoured the athletes at the Kalinga Sports Complex in Bhubaneswar for Odisha’s haul of six gold, seven silver and eight bronze medals in Khelo India Youth Games 2023. President of Hockey India and chairman of the Hockey Promotion Council of Odisha Dilip Tirkey, Sports Director Siddhartha Das and other officials of the Sports department were present.
Speaking at the occasion, the Minster said, “It is a matter of pride for us to see our young athletes win medals for Odisha. Congratulations to all the medalists, Odisha stands behind you as you continue your journey of athletic excellence.”
As many as 92 athletes were presented a total cash award of Rs 63,75,000. They were given Rs 1,00,000 for gold medals, Rs 75,000 for silver medals and Rs 50,000 for bronze medals.
Medal winning sprinters, weightlifters and gymnasts were felicitated in individual performance. In team sports, men’s hockey team, women’s hockey team, women’s kho-kho team and men’s football team received the cash awards.
Notably, Odisha participated in 12 disciplines at the Khelo India Youth Games 2023 and won at least one medal in every discipline except Swimming, Judo and Mallakhamb.