17-Apr-2007 92
India woman hockey captain Jyoti Sunita Kullu was conferred the State Sportsperson for the Year Award in a function at Jayadev Bhawan in Bhubaneswar today.
Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik presented the Biju Patnaik Sports, Bravery and Youth Awards for the year 2006-07
Kullu, who carried the tricolour at the opening ceremony of the Doha Asian Games last year, received Rs 1 lakh, a scroll, statuette and blazer with tie.
This is the first time that the ace woman hockey player from Sundargarh district was given any award or incentive by the State Government. Lack of recognition in home State also led to Kullu representing Jharkhand in the last National Games at Guwahati.
Former footballer Debendra Prasad Singh was honoured with the Lifetime Achievement Award. He received Rs 1.5 lakh with the scroll and statutte.
The Outstanding Coach Award was given jointly to Amulyanand Bihari (hockey) and Bijaya Kanungo (women’s football). The two State Government coaches received Rs 25,000 each.
The last of the four sports awards went to ‘Dharitri’ reporter Suresh Swain, who received Rs 30,000 as the Outstnding Sports Journalist.
Cash incentives to outstanding sportspersons of the year were also distributed at the function, which coincided with the death anniversary of former Chief Minister Biju Patnaik.
Seventy-two sportspersons shared a total of Rs 4.36 lakh. Major beneficiary included woman weightlifter Prasmita Mangaraj (Rs 25,000): hockey players Jyoti Sunita Kullu, Subhadra Pradhan, Sarita Lakra, Nilima Kujur, woman rower Pravasini Dwibedy, woman powerlifter Mandakini Mohanta (Rs 20,000 each): hockey internationals Ignace Tirkey, Prabodh Tirkey, William Xalxo, powerlifting international Ranu Mohanty (Rs 15,000 each).
State Finance Minister Prafulla Ghadai and Sports Minister Debasis Nayak were present at the function as guests.
