Biju Patnaik Sports Award, the highest honour conferred by the Government of Odisha in the field of sports, has been renamed as Odisha Rajya Krida Samman. A notification regarding the renaming of the award was published by the Department of Sports & Youth Services (DSYS) in its website yesterday.

This was the second major change implemented by the new BJP Government in the field of sports, following the replacement of DSYS Commissioner-cum-Secretary R Vineel Krishna by Bhaskar Jyoti Sarma earlier this month. However, there is no change in the eight categories of sports awards conferred by the previous BJD Government. The cash awards will also remain the same.

CAEGORIES OF ODISHA RAJAY KRIDA SAMMAN:
1.  Award for Life-time Achievement for promotion of sports and games, which will carry a cash award of Rs 3 lakh.
2.  Award for Outstanding Performance of the Year in sports and games, which will carry a cash award of Rs 2 lakh.
3.  Award for Excellence in Coaching, which will carry a cash award of Rs 1 lakh.
4.  Award for Best Contribution for promotion of sports and games, which will carry a cash award of Rs 1 lakh.
5.  Award for Excellence in Sports Journalism, which will carry a cash award of Rs 1 lakh.
6.  Award for Para-Sportsperson of the Year, which will carry a cash award of Rs 1 lakh.
7.  Award for Upcoming Athlete of the Year (Junior Category), which will carry a cash award of Rs 1 lakh.
8.  Award for Sports Technical Official(s)/Support Staff of the Year, which will carry a cash award of Rs 1 lakh.