Under-scanner Odisha woman sprinter Dutee Chand got a major boost to put her fledging career on right track as she was conferred with the 23rd Ekalavya Award for the year 2015 here at a star hotel todya . Shereceived a cash award of Rs 5 lakh along with citation from the hands of Odisha Sports Minister Sudam Marandi.

Dutee bagged three gold, three silver and three bronze medals in different National championships this year. Her best international performance of the year was a fourth-place finish in 4x100m relay event of the 21st Asian Athletics Championship at Wuhan in China.

In July this year, Court of Arbitration for Sports (CAS) permitted her to compete in both national and international events for two years as it partially upheld her appeal against the International Association of Athletic Federation (IAAF) Regulation on Hyperandrodenism, which had barred her from taking part in women’s competitions.

Besides, two other sportspersons _ woman weightlifter Pramila Kirsani and child chess prodigy Saina Salonika were felicitated with the runners-up prizes for their impressive performances in respective disciplines. Both were given a cash prize of Rs 50,000 each.

Instituted by Indian Metals Public Charitable Trust (IMPaCT), the charitable wing of the IMFA Group, in 1993, Ekalaby Award is conferred every year on young sportspersons of Odisha.
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PHOTO: Ekalavya award winner Dutee Chand (Centre) with runners-up Pramila Kirsani (Left), Saina Salonika (Right), Sports Minister Sudam Marndi and IMPaCT chairman Baijayant Panda in Bhubaneswar on Dec 23, 2015.