Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, at a special function here on Monday, felicitated with cash awards the Indian athletes who won medals at the 22nd Asian Athletics Championships (AAC)-2017 held at the Kalinga Stadium here from July 6 to 9.
The gold medal winners were awarded with Rs 10 lakh each, silver medalists with Rs 7.5 lakh each and bronze medalists with Rs 5 lakh each.
The athletes included three bronze medalists from Odisha, Dutee Chand, Srabani Nanda and others,
An announcement in this regard had been made by Patnaik during the closing ceremony of the event on Sunday.
“All of us are extremely proud and delighted that India not only topped the medals table but also registered its highest-ever medal tally as well as the highest-ever haul of gold medals in the 44-year history of Asian Athletics Championships. My heartiest congratulations to all the medal winners, the entire Indian contingent, the Athletics Federation of India and everyone associated with athletics in the country on this proud achievement,” Patnaik said.
“I would also like to convey my best wishes to those who shall be participating in the World Athletics Championships in london next month,” he said.
Among others, State Sports Minister Chandra Sarathi Behera and Secretary Vishal Dev and Athletics Federation of India president Adille Sumariwalla were present on the occasion.
India took the top spot wining 12 gold, 5 silver and 12 bronze medals. This was the best performance by Indian athletes at the AAC so far. Their previous best finish was in the last edition in 2013 at Wuhan, China, where they finished third with 4 gold, 5 silver and 4 bronze medals.
Notably, the Chief Minister, while speaking at the AAC closing ceremony on Sunday, had announced setting up of a Kalinga International Sports City in Bhubaneswar so that the State capital bids for international competitions like Commonwealth and Asian Games.
He maintained that Odisha is emerging as the sports capital of India,