Bhubaneswar: Talented shuttler Swetaparna Panda has been named winner of the 33rd Ekalabya Puraskar for 2025.
The Ekalabya Puraskar Committee, comprising of distinguished jury members from various sectors, met on Saturday to select the awardee.
The 20-year-old rising star will receive a cash prize of Rs 7 lakh and a trophy. The date of the Ekalabya Puraskar ceremony will be announced soon.
The Cuttack girl, who trained at the Gopichand Badminton Academy in Hyderabad earlier, has won 4 BWF International Challenge/Series doubles titles with her sister and partner Rutaparna.
Swetaparna apart, Odisha’s promising weightlifter Pritismita Bhoi and tennis player Aahaan will be honoured with citations for outstanding performances on national and international stages.
Both girls will receive a cash prize of Rs 1.5 lakh, along with citations at the award ceremony.
Ekalabya Puraskar was instituted by IMPaCT in 1993 and is managed by IMFA, the leading Ferro Alloys producer in the country.
Announcing the names of the award winners, Ekalabya Puraskar Committee Chairperson and Trustee of IMPaCT Baijayant Panda said: “IMPaCT has been in continuous pursuit to recognise and inspire excellence in sports, besides contributing to the general welfare of the society at large. Ekalabya Puraskar is instituted to encourage young sportspersons of the State to perform at the national and international arenas.”
