Odisha CM Confers Biju Patnaik Sports, Bravery & Social Service Awards

Bhubaneswar: Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik today conferred Biju Patnaik Sports, Bravery & Social Service awards at a special function held in Jaydev Bhawan here.

The prestigious Biju Patnaik Sports Award was conferred to World Champion in Para Badminton Pramod Bhagat, Angul’s little girl Shrimati Bhadra was conferred with the Biju Patnaik Bravery Award. She had saved her friend from a train mishap.

KIIT University was also given award for Best Contribution to Promotion of Sports and Games.

Founder of KIIT & KISS, Dr Achyuta Samanta received the prestigious award on behalf of KIIT.

Radhakant Tripathy (Bhadrak), Badri Mishra (Puri), Mahendra Joshi (Nuapada), Kamakshya Majhi (Koraput), Ram Dash (Bolangir) and Abdul Khan (Keonjhar) received Rs 25,000 for social service.

Speaking on the occasion, Naveen said that the talented sports persons of Odisha have been making a mark at various national and international events. Their success and contribution to the field of sports will encourage the talented youth mass.

He said, “Bhubaneswar is now gradually earning a name and fame as the sports capital of our country. It has been internationally certified for organizing sports events. After successfully organizing Asian Athletic Championship, Men’s Hockey World League Final and Men’s Hockey World Cup here, we are going to organize Under 17 Women’s Hockey World Cup.

Bhubaneswar has earned distinction as a glorious star in the sports firmament”.

Agreements have been inked with various established training institutes in order to impart coaching to the promising young sportspersons in the fields of athletics, football, tennis, badminton and other games and sports, he added.