On the occasion of National Sports Day on Monday, Odisha CM felicitated athletes with Biju Patnaik Sports Award and also gave appointment orders to 53 meritorious sportspersons.

Congratulating all the award winners, the CM said, “It is a proud moment for us to honour you all. I am sure the achievements of the sportspersons being felicitated today, will motivate more youth to take up sports as a career.”

Odisha is being recognised as an emerging sports destination in the country. The government will continue to support sports activities and make Odisha a major force in the sports field in the coming years, he added.

Weightlifter Jhili Dalabehera and shooter Shriyanka Sadangi were conferred with the prestigious Biju Patnaik Sports Award for Outstanding Performance, while coach Bishnu Mishra and journalist Benudhara Das were conferred with the Biju Patnaik Sports Award for Excellence in Coaching and Best Sports Journalist recognition, respectively.

Debasis Mohanty the first International cricketer of the State received the Lifetime Achievement award and Rourkela Steel Plant (RSP) bagged the Biju Patnaik Sports award for Best Contribution to the development of sports.

The prominent award winners were hockey players Amit Rohidas and Deep Grace Ekka, who won medals at the recently concluded Birmingham Commonwealth Games. Amit received a cash award of 75 lakh for winning silver while Deep received50 lakh for winning bronze.

Dutee Chand, Srabani Nanda and Dinesh Kumar for their participation in CWG, and Padmini Rout for competing in FIDE Chess Olympiad, received a cash award of `7.5 lakh each. For their selfless act of courage and bravery, 14-year-old Pratap Tarei and 10-year-old Subhashree Rout were conferred with the Biju Patnaik Bravery Award.