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BHUBANESWAR: Chief minister Naveen Patnaik on Saturday said Odisha has become a major centre of sports activities in the last few years while the state is now globally known as a hub of hockey.
While presenting the Biju Patnaik Sports Award to outstanding sports persons and coaches on the occasion of National Sports Day, which was celebrated through video conferencing, the chief minister recalled his late father and former chief minister Biju Patnaik and said Biju Babu himself was a great sports person and promoted sports all along his life.
“We are now in the process of realising his dreams of making Odisha a buzzing centre of sports. We are going to host yet another edition of Hockey World Cup in 2023,” he said on the occasion.
Para-athlete Jayanti Behera and member of Indian hockey women team Deep Grace Ekka received the Biju Patnaik Sports Award for outstanding performance in sports and games. Both of them received cash award of Rs 2 lakh each. Young girls Purnima Giri and Sabita Giri, who had risked their lives to rescue 12 persons from drowning following a boat tragedy of Nipania village under Mahakalapada block in Kendrapada district, received the Biju Patnaik Bravery Award. They receive cash award of rupees one lakh each, medal and citation.
The chief minister on the occasion also presented awards to a number of sports persons and coaches.
On his government’s commitment to promote sports in Odisha, Naveen said development of sports infrastructure and coaching facilities at grassroots level are being done on an expeditious manner.
“Best of the coaches from across the world, have been engaged in our high performance centres in various sports disciplines to provide top class coaching. I am sure our sports persons will continue to excel in national and international sports and bring glory to the state in the coming years,” said Naveen.
Stating that the world is going through a great crisis due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the chief minister emphasized the importance of sports and fitness. “We wish to further promote sports to enhance the physical and mental health of our citizens in the state. More than the medals, sports and fitness activities should become a way of life in our society,” said Naveen.
While presenting the Biju Patnaik Sports Award to outstanding sports persons and coaches on the occasion of National Sports Day, which was celebrated through video conferencing, the chief minister recalled his late father and former chief minister Biju Patnaik and said Biju Babu himself was a great sports person and promoted sports all along his life.
“We are now in the process of realising his dreams of making Odisha a buzzing centre of sports. We are going to host yet another edition of Hockey World Cup in 2023,” he said on the occasion.
Para-athlete Jayanti Behera and member of Indian hockey women team Deep Grace Ekka received the Biju Patnaik Sports Award for outstanding performance in sports and games. Both of them received cash award of Rs 2 lakh each. Young girls Purnima Giri and Sabita Giri, who had risked their lives to rescue 12 persons from drowning following a boat tragedy of Nipania village under Mahakalapada block in Kendrapada district, received the Biju Patnaik Bravery Award. They receive cash award of rupees one lakh each, medal and citation.
The chief minister on the occasion also presented awards to a number of sports persons and coaches.
On his government’s commitment to promote sports in Odisha, Naveen said development of sports infrastructure and coaching facilities at grassroots level are being done on an expeditious manner.
“Best of the coaches from across the world, have been engaged in our high performance centres in various sports disciplines to provide top class coaching. I am sure our sports persons will continue to excel in national and international sports and bring glory to the state in the coming years,” said Naveen.
Stating that the world is going through a great crisis due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the chief minister emphasized the importance of sports and fitness. “We wish to further promote sports to enhance the physical and mental health of our citizens in the state. More than the medals, sports and fitness activities should become a way of life in our society,” said Naveen.
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