BHUBANESWAR 14-Jun-2015 17
Odisha all-rounders Deepak Behera and Swagatika Rath were conferred with the Saheed Sporting-Maruti Estate Cricketer of the Year Award in a function here at a city hotel today. Former India spinner Pragyan Ojha handed over the awards in the presence of eminent cricketers Debasis Mohanty, Rashmi Ranjan Das, hockey Olympian Lazarus Barla and former India woman football captain Sradhanjali Samantaray.
Ojha, who started his career from Bhubaneswar-based Saheed Sporting Club, exhorted budding cricketers to give emphasis to hard work and discipline. He was honoured on the occasion by club secretary Pankaj Patnaik and Maruti Estate India Private Limited MD Jitendra Prasad Singh.
Deepak, who put up impressive performance in the 2014-15 Ranji season, bagging 33 wickets and scoring 137 runs in eight matches, received 23rd edition of the award, which carried a trophy and purse of Rs 31,000.
International Swagatika, became the second woman after Madhuri Meheta to bag the award. She was given a trophy and cash award of Rs 21,000. Instituted in the year 1993-93 by Saheed Sporting Club, prestigious award is sponsored by Maruti Estate India Private Limited.
ROLL OF HONOUR:
SSME Cricketer of the Year: 1. Ranjib Biswal (1992-93), 2. P Jayachandra (1993-94), 3. Rashmi Ranjan Parida (1994-95), 4. Prasant Mohapatra (1995-96), 5. Debasis Mohanty (1996-97), 6. Pravanjan Mullick (1997-98), 7. Shiv Sundar Das (1998-99), 8. Sanjay Satpathy (1999-2000), 9. Debasis Mohanty (2000-01), 10. Pravanjan Mullick (2001-02), 11. BBCC Mohapatra (2002-03), 12. Deepak Mangaraj (2003-04), 13. Debasis Mohanty (2004-05), 14. Pravanjan Mullick (2005-06), 15. Debasis Mohanty (2006-07), 16. Debasis Mohanty (2007-08), 17. Basant Mohanty (2008-09), 18. Dhiraj Singh (2009-10), 19. Basant Mohaty (2010-11), 20. Biplab Samantaray (2011-12), 21. Basant Mohanty (2012-13), 22. Natraj Behera (2013-14), 23. Deepak Behera (2014-15).
SSME Woman Cricketer of the Year: 1. Madhuri Meheta (2013-14), 2. Swagatika Rath (2014-15).
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PHOTO: Pragyan Ojha (C) with award winners Deepak Behera (L) and Swagatika Rath in Bhubaneswar on June 14, 2015.
