Odisha Sportspersons Honored with Cash Awards for Exceptional Performance

Bhubaneswar: During a ceremony held at the Tennis Centre, Kalinga Sports Complex, athletes from Odisha were bestowed with special cash awards for their remarkable achievements across a multitude of sporting disciplines. The event, which took place on Thursday, saw a total of Rs 56,93,000 being awarded to recipients who clinched a staggering 269 medals.

Distinguished guests, including Dilip Tirkey, Chairman of the Hockey Promotion Council of Odisha, Siddhartha Das, Sports Director, and Deepankar Mohapatra, CEO of Hockey Promotion Council of Odisha, graced the occasion to acknowledge and felicitate the athletes.

The honorees hailed from over 20 different sporting disciplines, encompassing Athletics, Swimming, Rugby, Hockey, Badminton, Weightlifting, Karate, Volleyball, and Tennis, among others. Their exceptional performances in various competitions, both at the national and international levels, were lauded and rewarded.

One of the standout athletes recognized during the ceremony was Pratyasa Ray, whose stellar performance earned her a cash award of Rs 3,82,000. Ray showcased her talent and dedication by securing an impressive haul of 12 medals at the recently concluded Khelo India University Games 2023 and the All-India University Games 2023. Notably, she emerged as the most successful athlete, clinching four gold, one silver, and one bronze medal.