Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Thursday announced a cash award of Rs 12 lakh for junior para-athlete Jayanti Behera, who won two medals at recently-concluded World Para Athletics Junior Championships in Nottwil, Switzerland.
Sports and Youth Services Minister Chandra Sarathi Behera was present.
The 17-year-old won a gold medal in the 400-meter event and a silver medal in the 200-meter race, clocking a time of 28.04 seconds. She bettered her silver medal by defeating the 200-meter champion, Chile’s Cerna Amanda in the 400-m race with her personal best timing of 1:01.37 minutes.
Jayanti would be felicitated on August 29 on the occasion of the National Sports Day for bringing laurels to the State. The talented athlete returned here on Wednesday to a rousing welcome.
Hailing from a poor family, she braved all odds to rise to such heights. Bishnu Prasad Mishra had first spotted her six years ago and since then he has been training her. She is the youngest among five siblings.