Animesh receives Biju Patnaik Sports award

Published By : Satya Mohapatra | August 31, 2025 2:03 PM

Bhubaneswar: On the occasion of National Sports Day celebration, India’s fastest man Animesh Kujur receives Biju Patnaik Sports Award for outstanding performance in Sports and Games award here in a function at Jaydev Bhawan on Friday.

Animesh is the fastest man of the country, in the year 2025 he created national record timings in both 100m and 200m race by clocking 10.18 sec and 20.32 sec respectively.

22-year-old sprinter Animesh Kujur from Chhattisgarh has created history as he confirmed his place for the 2025 World Athletics Championships, which is slated to be held in Tokyo from September 13 to 21. He received a citation, trophy along with cash award of Rs 3 lakhs.

Weightlifter Arjuna awardee Bijay Kumar Satapathy received the lifetime achievement award, Satpathy is a five-time national champion in weightlifting from 1977–78 to 1982-83 and represented the Indian Navy and Indian Railways.

He won the gold medal at the 1981 Mini Commonwealth Games and later followed up with silver at the 1982 main event at Brisbane. He won the bronze medal at the 1981 and 1983 Asian Weightlifting Championships. Due to the ill health condition, Satapathy could not attend the function, his son received a citation, trophy along with cash award of Rs 4 lakhs.

In other categories, Para athlete Rakhal Kumar Sethy (Best para sports person), chess player Sattwik Swain (upcoming junior athlete), Sports Hostel Volleyball coach Sushama Nanda (Excellence in coaching), Pradyumna Mishra of Kho Kho Association of Odisha (Best contribution to promotion of sports and games), Bimal Kumar Raul (Excellence in Sports Journalism) and Dr Sudeep Satpathy (best technical official / support staff).

Chittaranjan Pradhan and Jiban Kumar Behera both received Biju Patnaik Bravery Award. All the award winners received citation, trophy along with cash award of Rs 2 lakhs each.

Governor of Odisha, Dr. Hari Babu Kambhampati gave away the prizes in presence of Sports Minister Suryabanshi Suraj, Ekamra MLA Babu Singh, Sports and Youth Services Department Secretary Sachin Ramachadra Jadhav, Director Yeddula Vijay.