Sprinting sensation of the State Dutee Chand received the 23rd Ekalavya award for 2015 in a function here on Wednesday.
She got a cash award of Rs 5 lakh along with citation. Chand has had a brilliant international and national track record for the past few years.
Dutee bagged her last gold in the 100 meter women in the 35th National Games at Kerala by clocking 11.76 seconds in February. Dutee secured bronze medal in 100 women events with timing of 12.10 seconds in the 55th National Inter State Senior Athletic Championship at Chennai in the July.
Recently, Court of Arbitration for Sports (CAS) Swizerland suspended International Association of Athletic Federation (IAAF)’s Hyperandrodenism rule, in the basis of such verdict Dutee would participate in the national and international event. Recently, she got qualified for the SAG games.
Besides, two other sportspersons weightlifter Pramila Kirsani and chess player Saina Salonika were received runners up prizes for their remarkable performances in their respective fields. Both will receive a cash prize of Rs 50,000 each.
The award, instituted by Indian Metals Public Charitable Trust (IMPaCT), the charitable wing of the IMFA Group, in 1993, is conferred every year on young sportspersons of Odisha.