Odisha Sports Minister Felicitates Young Athletes for Outstanding Achievements

Bhubaneswar: In a prestigious felicitation ceremony held today in Bhubaneswar, Sports Minister Tusharkanti Behera lauded the remarkable achievements of young athletes from Odisha who excelled in Hockey, Rugby, Kayaking, and Canoeing. The ceremony also recognized the winners of the Digital Competitions under the Nua O initiative, presenting them with well-deserved cash awards. Accompanying the Sports Minister were Sports Director, Siddhartha Das, and Jt. Secretary, Sailendra Kumar Jena.

A total of 59 athletes were felicitated, collectively receiving a cash prize of Rs 9,00,500 in acknowledgment of their exceptional performances.

In Kayaking and Canoeing, Odisha athletes showcased their skills at the 34th Sub-Junior and Junior National Canoe Sprint Championship, 2024, held in Bhopal. A remarkable 19 athletes clinched medals, securing a total of 40 medals across Sub-Junior and Junior categories. The athletes were honored with a total cash prize of Rs 7,40,500.

Furthermore, in Rugby, both the Girls and Boys Rugby Teams secured silver medals at the National Sub–Junior U-14 Rugby Championship, 2024, held in Gujarat. The teams were collectively awarded a total of Rs 1,20,000, with each player receiving Rs. 5,000.

The U-14 Grassroots team of the Odisha Hockey High-Performance Centre exhibited their skills by securing the 2nd Runners position in the KD Singh Babu U-14 Boy’s hockey tournament. In recognition of their efforts, a cash prize of Rs 2,500 was granted to all 16 participants, totaling Rs 40,000.

Simultaneously, 27 awardees of the Nua O Digital competitions were acknowledged for their creative prowess in reel making, photography, and film making. Cash prizes of Rs 50,000, Rs 40,000, and Rs 30,000 were awarded for the first, second, and third places, respectively. The ceremony celebrated the spirit of sportsmanship and creativity, encouraging the young talents to strive for greater heights in their respective fields.