International-level athlete Purnima Hembram has bagged the 22nd Ekalabya Award for the year 2014 with the award committee unanimously selecting her for the prestigious award at a meeting held here on Sunday.
Gold medals in the women heptathlon event at the 15th Asian Junior Athletics Championship-2012 held in Sri lanka and a silver medal in the heptathlon event at the 53rd national Open Athletics Championship-2013 held in Ranchi are some of the credits to Hembram. The athlete will get a cash prize of `2 lakh along with citation at the Ekalabya Award function, the date for which will be announced soon.
Besides, two more sportspersons, including women cricketer Rasanara Parbin and rower Manjula Xess will also be felicitated for their remarkable performances in their respective fields at various international and national level championships. Both will receive a cash prize of `50,000 along with citations.
Notably, the Ekalabya Award, initiated by IMPaCT in 1993, has come a long way to be recognised as the most prestigious sports award of Odisha drawing parallels with many national awards. IMPaCT Trustee and MP Baijayant Panda said this award attracts young talents and inspire them to perform better in the national and international arena.