Bhubaneswar: Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has congratulated Odisha hockey player and member of Tokyo 2020 Olympic team, Deep Grace Ekka, on being selected to be awarded the prestigious Arjuna Award.
“May she continue to shine and bring laurels for the country. Wish her all the very best,” tweeted the Chief Minister.
He also congratulated Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology (KIIT) on being selected to receive the Rashtriya Khel Protsahan Puruskar 2022 for encouraging sports through Corporate Social Responsibility.
Congratulate #Odisha hockey player and member of #Tokyo2020 Olympic team, Deep Grace Ekka on being selected to be awarded prestigious #ArjunaAward. May she continue to shine and bring laurels for the country. Wish her all the very best. pic.twitter.com/xZ8PHTVCB9
— Naveen Patnaik (@Naveen_Odisha) November 15, 2022
The National Sports Awards was announced by the Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports on Monday. The awardees will receive their awards from the President of India at a specially organised function at Rashtrapati Bhavan on November 30, 2022.
Other sportpersons who have been nominated for the Arjuna Award for this year are veteran discus thrower Seema Punia, top badminton players Lakshya Sen and HS Prannoy, who played a key role in the Indian team’s maiden triumph in the Thomas Cup, boxer Amit Phangal, shooters Elavenil Valarivan and Omprakash Mitharval and young table tennis star Sreeja Akula, who partnered Sharath Kamal to mixed doubles title at Birmingham Commonwealth Games.
Woman chess player Bhakti Kulkarni, judo star Shushila Devi, woman kabaddi player Sakshi Kumari, Mallakhamb star Sagar Kailas Ovhalkar, wushu player Parveen and deaf badminton player Jerlin Anika J. were the others who will get the Arjuna Award for 2022.
The list includes three para-badminton stars — World Champion Manasi Joshi, Tarun Dhillon and Swapnil Sanjay Patil. Top wrestlers Anshu and Sarita too were awarded the Arjuna as was Nayan Moi Saikia, who helped India bag their maiden gold medal in lawn balls at Birmingham. Incidentally, no cricketer was nominated for Arjuna Award this year.
Other than KIIT, the Rashtriya Khel Protsahan Puruskar will be given to TransStadia Enterprises Private Limited for identification and nurturing of budding and young talent and to Ladakh Ski & Snowboard Association for sports for development.
