Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Thursday felicitated Odisha’s track and field athlete Bapi Hansda with a cash award of Rs 25 lakh for winning gold in the 400m hurdles at the recently-concluded 18th National Youth Athletics Championship with a time of 51.90 sec.
With this timing, 17-year-old Bapi is now ranked World No 1 in under-18 years’ age category. This achievement qualified Bapi for Asian Youth Athletics Championship scheduled in Uzbekistan in April.
Bapi, who hails from Baleswar, is the youngest of five siblings and had lost his father in 2008.
The Chief Minister also felicitated Odisha FC's Diego Mauricio, who won the coveted ISL 2022-23 Golden Boot award.
Diego along with Odisha FC president Raj Atwal thanked the CM for supporting Odisha FC and creating a holistic sports ecosystem for promotion of football.
Since 2019, Odisha FC has been a fan favourite drawing crowd in large numbers to the Kalinga Stadium for the ISL home matches.
Diego Maurico started the season by scoring two goals in the first match against Jamshedpur FC and continued his goal-scoring spree throughout the season and finished with 12 goals in 21 matches, emerged as the top scorer this ISL 2022-23 season and won the prestigious Golden Boot award.
CM gives Rs 25L award to Bapi Hansda
Friday, 24 March 2023 | PNS
| Bhubandeswar
CM gives Rs 25L award to Bapi Hansda
Friday, 24 March 2023 | PNS | Bhubandeswar
