Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik today conferred Biju Patnaik Sports awards, 2016 and gave away cash prizes to eminent sports personalites on the occasion of the National Sports Day.
Biju Patnaik Sports Award is the highest award instituted by the state government since 2001-2002.
Coach Panchanana Gantayat was felicitated with the Lifetime Achievement award while Dutee Chand got the prize for outstanding performance in sports and games category.
Sanhita Das was felicitated for excellence in coaching.
Journalists Ashok Kumar Panda and Rajanikanta Satrusalya have been awarded for their contribution towards sports journalism in the state.
Founder of Utkal Karate School in Bhubaneswar Hariprasad Pattnayak has been awarded for the Best Contribution to Promotion of Sports and Games.
Harischandra Hiaal and Mohan Garada were given the Biju Patnaik Bravery Award for rescuing five children during a flash flood last year.
Six sportsperson with disability were given cash prizes in the Outstanding Sportspersons category. Pramod Bhagat (Para Badminton), Jayanti Behera (Para Atheletics), Rajesh Meher (Special Olympics), Jafar Iqbal and Sukhram Majhi (Blind Cricket) were the awardees.
Dipsan Tirkey, G.Narahari, Bonita Lakra and Bignaraj Miridia were also awarded in the outstanding sports persons category.
The State Award for Social Service was also conferred on social activist Meera Parida, Dinesh Kumar Mallick, Manoj Kumar Dani, Jhasaketan Ranaj, Gracy Mol Singh and Chinmaya Kumar Bebarta.
After felicitating the sports persons, chief minister Patnaik said the state would launch "Biju Yuva Sashaktikaran Yojana to connect and reach out to the youths across the state.
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