By Our Correspondent
BHUBANESWAR: Sports Loving Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Friday felicitated Tokyo Paralympics gold medal winner Pramod Bhagat with a cash award of Rs 6 crore and offered him a Group-A level government job.
World No 1 para shuttler Pramod Bhagat had clinched the gold medal after defeating Great Britain’s Daniel Bethell by 2-0 in the men’s singles SL3 — final match at the Tokyo Paralympics.He bagged the first gold medal for the country in badminton at the Tokyo Paralympics.
The felicitation ceremony was held here at the Kalinga Hockey Stadium here. Sports and Youth Services Minister Tusharkanti Behera, Hockey Promotion Council Chairman Dilip Tirkey, Secretary to Chief Minister(5T) VK Pandian, Sports and Youth Services Secretary R Vineel Krishna.
Congratulating Pramod, Patnaik 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.”“You have inspired a generation of sportspersons and para-sportspersons to create their own destiny. I wish you all the very best for greater glories. We will continue to support you in your journey ahead,” the Chief Minister said.
