Bhubaneswar: The Sports and Youth Services Department of Odisha recognized and honoured 88 exceptional athletes for their outstanding achievements across various sporting disciplines. The felicitation ceremony took place at the Kalinga Sports Complex and included team and individual events in diverse sports, such as Kho kho, Para Athletics, Blind Cricket, Gymnastics, Weightlifting, and Athletics.
Deepankar Mohapatra, CEO of the Hockey Promotion Council Odisha (HPCO), presented cash awards totaling Rs 19,65,500 to the athletes during the ceremony. The event celebrated diversity and excellence in sports, acknowledging the accomplishments of athletes in para sports and blind sports.
Expressing his congratulations, Deepankar Mohapatra said, “Your success brings great pride to Odisha and has the potential to inspire countless others to embrace the spirit of sports. Best of luck in all your future endeavors, may you continue to shine and bring more glory to our state.”
The felicitation covered various achievements, including the Junior Women’s Kho-kho team winning the silver medal in the Junior National Championship and the Odisha Blind Cricket Women’s team securing victory in the 4th National Blind Cricket Tournament. Para Athletics saw eight athletes being rewarded with Rs 3,20,000 for their performance at the 22nd National Para Athletics Championship 2024 in Goa.
Additionally, top performers from Odisha in the Junior and Senior Artistic Gymnastics National Championship and the National Weightlifting Championship 2023-24 were recognized and rewarded for their excellence. Notable athletes felicitated included Jayanti Behera, Suchitra Parida, Pankaj Bhue (Para Athletics), Jyoshna Sabar, Mina Santa (Weightlifting), Tapan Mohanty, Rakesh Kumar Patra, Mohd Anas (Gymnastics), Bapi Hansda, and Sabita Toppo (Athletics). The ceremony highlighted the state’s commitment to nurturing and acknowledging sporting talent across diverse disciplines.