Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Friday announced a cash incentive of Rs 10 lakh each for the seven para athletes of Odisha who would participate in the Asian Para Games scheduled from October 22, 2023.
The Asian Para Games would bring together elite para athletes from across the continent, offering a platform to them to showcase their dedication and talent.
Among the athletes competing from Odisha would be reigning Paralympic gold medallist Pramod Bhagat. He would defend his gold medal in the para badminton mixed single’s event.
Other para athletes from Odisha include Jayanti Behera (para-athletics), Soundarya Kumar Pradhan (visually-impaired chess), Rakhal Kumar Sethi, V Ramesh Rao, Prafulla Kumar Khandayatray, and Pujaswini Nayak (wheelchair fencing).
Wishing the athletes success, the CM said, “We are immensely proud of our para athletes who have worked tirelessly to qualify for the prestigious Asian Para Games 2022 in Hangzhou, China. The para athletes are a testimony to human spirit and determination. I wish them and the entire India contingent the very best in their endeavour to bring laurels to the country.”