The Business Bytes
TBB BUREAU
BHUBANESWAR, SEPT 10, 2021
Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik felicitated ace shuttler Pramod Bhagat, badminton gold medallist at Tokyo Paralympics, with cash award of Rs 6 crore at a function held at Kalinga Stadium here today.
The reigning world champion para shuttler, who has left an indelible mark in the Sports history of India as the first Gold medal winner in para badminton at Tokyo Paralympics, has also been offered a Group A level Government job.
Congratulating Bhagat, the Chief Minister, said, “It gives me immense pleasure to felicitate you on your outstanding achievement. Your victory was a proud moment for the entire nation and will remain forever so. You have truly redefined how Sports can uplift and empower lives.
Noting that Bhagat has inspired a generation of sportspersons and para sportspersons to create their own destiny, Patnaik said, “I wish you all the very best for greater glories. We will continue to support you in your journey ahead.”
Bhagat expressed his gratitude towards the Chief Minister for the continuous support and motivation in his Olympic journey.
Minister for Sports and Youth Services Tusharkanti Behera, Hockey Promotion Council Chairman Dilip Tirkey, Secretary to Chief Minister V K Pandian, Commissioner-cum- Secretary, Sports and Youth Services Department, R Vineel Krishna, sportspersons and officials of the Sports Department were also a part of the ceremony.
Earlier, Bhagat was accorded a hero’s welcome here on his return home. He was given a grand welcome at the Biju Patnaik International Airport by the state government. State Sports Minister Tusharkanti Behera and Secretary R. Vineel Krishna welcomed the Paralympics gold medallist at the airport.
Pramod thanked the state and people for the grand welcome and said that his next target is to win another gold medal in the Paris Paralympics in 2024.
Beating Daniel Bethell of Great Britain, Pramod won gold medal in badminton men’s singles SL3 in the recently concluded Tokyo Paralympics, 2020.
