Tokyo Paralympics gold medalist Pramod Bhagat has become the first sportsperson from Odisha to be awarded the Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award. The para-shuttler will receive the prestigious award along with 11 other Indian sportspersons.
Along with Bhagat, Amit Rohidas and Birendra Lakra have also made Odisha proud as they will both receive the Arjuna Award for their performance in hockey. Both defenders played a key role in India’s dominant outing at the Tokyo Olympics 2020 – clinching the bronze medal. Notably, the two athletes are among 35 sportspersons receiving the Arjun Award this year.
The ‘Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award’ is given for the spectacular and most outstanding performance in the field of sports by a sportsperson over the previous four years. It is the highest sporting honour in India. Arjuna award is also given for outstanding performance in Sports and Games.
President Ram Nath Kovind will be handing the National Sports Awards for 2021 at a special function at the Darbar Hall of Rashtrapati Bhavan on November 13.
The Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports will also be conferring the ‘Dronacharya Award for outstanding coaches in Sports and Games’, which is given to coaches for doing outstanding and meritorious work consistently and enabling sportspersons to excel in International events. Tapan Kumar Panigrahi from Odisha will be receiving the Dronacharya Award in swimming discipline, along with four other coaches.