BHUBANESWAR 20-Jun-2013 492
Waking up from deep slumber, the State Government today felicitated 129 sportspersons with a total cash award of around Rs 1.10 crore for achieving success in different national and international competitions during the past five years. Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik presented special awards worth Rs 8 lakhs to 16 outstanding sportspersons in a function here at Jayadev Bhawan.
Among the 16, international woman hurdler Anuradha Biswal received the maximum of Rs 3 lakhs for completing 25 years in competitive athletics. The other 113 sportspersons were presented with a total cash incentive of Rs 2,02,51,000. Chess WGM Padmini Rout was the highest beneficiary, pocketing Rs 7.5 lakhs. As many as 26 sportspersons became richer by Rs 1 lakh or more each.
The long-pending annual cash incentive awards were distributed at time for five years (2007-08 to 2011-12). Surprisingly not a singles hockey player was considered for the cash incentive award. Large number of awardees were absent in the function due to various reasons.
Sports & Youth Services Minister Ramesh Chandra Majhi, Rajya Sabha Member and former hockey Olympian Dilip Tirkey, Sports Secretary Injeti Srinivas and Sports Director D V Swamy were present in the function.
