**Bhubaneswar**: Odisha Government has plans to improve sports infrastructure and facilities at the grassroots level to motivate kids to take up sports as a career. This was declared by Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Monday while felicitating sports personalities, youths, artists with the prestigious Biju Patnaik Awards.
“Today the Biju Patnaik Sports Awards were given away to outstanding sports personalities of our state. Our Olympian girls were also felicitated. We have many talents and we are coming up world class infrastructure and coaching facilities to improve our performance at national and international level,” Patnaik said after handing over Biju Patnaik Sports Awards, Biju Patnaik Bravery Awards and State Youth Awards here while celebrating the National Sports Day.
Stating that his Government’s priority was on the development of sports and youths, Patnaik said “Development of playgrounds in urban areas which are shrinking in the process of urbanisation is also in the focus of the State government.”
Odisha Cricket Association (OCA) Secretary Asribad Behera who is also the General Secretary of Odisha Olympic Association and Cuttack District Athletic Association, was awarded ‘Biju Patnaik Sports Award For Best Contribution To Promotion Of Sports and Games’ for the year 2015.
Behera received a cash award of Rs 50,000 and a statuette.
“I am grateful for Chief Minister, Sports Minister and Secretary for choosing me for this award. On this day, I urge everyone to support sports and work for the better future sports persons,” said Behera.
Four women hockey players from Odisha- Deep Grace Ekka, Namita Toppo, Lilima Minz and Sunita Lakra, two sprinters- Dutee Chand and Srabani Nanda, who participated in the Rio Olympics, were also felicitated by the Chief Minister on the ocassion.
All the six players were given Rs 5 lakh each by the state government.
Purnima Hembram, who won many medals at national and international events, was awarded with ‘Biju Patnaik Sports Award for Outstanding Performance in Sports and Games -2015’ which carries cash award of Rs 2 lakh and a statuette.
“I have got this award after 8 years of struggle and hard work. I am very happy that our state is doing much for sportspersons and which will inspire us perform better in future,” said Hembram, who won Gold Medal in 19th Federation Cup Senior Athletics Championship at Mangalore in May, 2015.
Among the sports persons who received awards were Dutee Chand and Srabani Nanda.
“I am really happy today as on the same day in 2014, I was barred from participating any event but now I am receiving an award for my performance. The State Government has fulfilled my demand and supported financially which I needed the most. I am thankful and grateful for all,” said Dutee Chand.
P. Dharma Rao, Chitrasen Patra were also give awards as the outstanding coaches who received cash award of Rs 1 lakh each with statuette.
Tanmay Das was felicitated with outstanding sports journalists for the year 2015 and received a cash award of Rs 50,000 and a statuette.
Abinash Mishra of Puri district who had saved a 14-year-old boy while he was drowning in a river, was conferred with Biju Patnaik Bravery Award for the year 2015-16.
Besides, Naresh Chandra Baliarsingh Mohapatra, Bikram Keshari Nayak, Debashish Sahu, Mahendra Kumar Nayak and Dhyanananda Panda were awarded for social service.