Odisha’s swimming sensation Pratyasa Ray was on Sunday presented the Ekalabya Puraskar for 2024, recognising her outstanding achievements at national and international levels from April 1, 2022 to March 31, 2024. Pratyasa received a citation, a trophy, and a cash prize of Rs 7 lakh at a distinguished ceremony held at Mayfair Convention, Bhubaneswar.

The event also celebrated the accomplishments of sprinter Dondapati Mrutyam Jayaram and badminton player Tanvi Patri, each awarded citations and cash prizes of Rs 1.5 lakh. The ceremony was attended by prominent figures, including Odisha’s Deputy Chief Minister Kanak Vardhan Singh Deo as chief guest, and Suryabanshi Suraj, Minister for Education, Sports & Youth Services and Odia Language Literature & Culture, as the guest of honor.

Baijayant Panda, trustee and chairman of the Ekalabya Puraskar Committee-2024, along with jury members, also graced the occasion. The Ekalabya Puraskar, instituted in 1993 by IMPaCT and managed by IMFA, India’s leading ferro alloys producer, is an annual award recognizing young sportspersons of Odisha for their remarkable achievements in the last two years.