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Since he was in Delhi to receive Arjuna Award, Bhagat could not be present in Bhubaneswar to take the Biju Patnaik Sports Award, which is given by the Odisha Government. In his absence, para-badminton teammate Dileswar Rao received the award, which carried a statute, citation and a cheque of Rs 2 lakh.
Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik handed over the Biju Patnaik Sports, Bravery and Social Service Awards for the year 2018 in a function held at Jayadev Bhawarn in Bhubaneswar. Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology (KIIT) bagged the Biju Patnaik Award for Best Contribution to Promotion of Sports and Games. KIIT founder Dr Achyuta Samanta received the award, which carried a purse of Rs 1 lakh.
Unfortunately, no names were found deserving this year for Biju Patnaik Sports Awards in the categories of Lifetime Achievement, Outstanding Coach and Outsanding Journalist. Sports Minister Tusharkanti Behera and Sports Secretary Vishal Kumar Dev were present in the function.
Besides the Biju Patnaik Awards, as many as 138 sportspersons were felicitated with cash awards/incentives for achieving national and international success on the occasion. Among major beneficiaries, Pramod Bhagat received Rs 31.20 lakh, sprint queen Dutee Chand Rs 6.67 lakh, weightlifter Jhili Dalabehera Rs 4.42 lakh, rugby player Bhagyalaxmi Barik Rs 3.45 lakh, chess IM Padmini Rout Rs 2.23 lakh, archer Tuna Kurmi Rs 2.22 lakh and karateka Valena Valentina Rs 2.10 lakh.
But most of the cash awarded were stunned to know that 30 per cent had been deducted from the award money towards Tax Deducted at Source (TDS). Surprisingly, the Sports & Youth Services Department did not disclose the full list of 138 cash awardees in the function. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- PICS ---------------------------------------------------------------------- TOP: In the absence of Pramod Bhagat, his teammate Dileswar Rao receives the Biju Patnaik Award for Excellence in Sports from Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik in Bhubaneswar on 29 August, 2019. RIGHT: Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik hands over the Biju Patnaik Award for Best Contribution to Promotion of Sports and Games to KIIT founder Dr Achyut Samant in Bhubaneswar on 29 August, 2019.
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