Woman international weightlifter Jhilli Dalabehera has been selected for the 27th Ekalabya Award for the year 2019. The Ekalabya Award Committee unanimously chose Dalabehera for the prestigious award in a meeting held here today.

Dalabehera, with two gold, three silver and one bronze medals in international weightlifting events between 1st April 2017 to 31st March 2019 emerged as the clear winner this year. She will get a cash award of Rs 5 lakh along with a citation at a function the date of which will be announced later.

Besides Dalabehera, two other sportspersons will also be felicitated for their remarkable performances in various international and national level competitions in their respective fields. They are: women football international Jabamani Tudu and women hockey star Namita Toppo. Both will receive a cash prize of Rs. 50,000 each along with citations.

Instituted by IMPaCT in the year 1993, Ekalabya Award is given every year to young sportspersons of Odisha in recognition of their outstanding performance in the preceding two years.