Odisha Channel Bureau
BHUBANESWAR: The Ekalabya Puraskar 2017 has been bagged by well-known field hockey player Dipsan Tirkey, as one of the prestigious sports awards of Odisha celebrates the 25th year of its inception.
The Ekalabya Committee comprising of jury members drawn from different walks of life were unanimous in their decision to select emerging and talented Hockey player Dipsan Tirkey for the award at a meeting held here on Sunday.
Tirkey has a brilliant international and national track record. He was a member of the Indian Team that emerged Champion in the 8th Junior Men’s Asia Cup Hockey Tournament in Malaysia and is a rising star in the current national Hockey team.
The ace defender will receive a cash award of Rs. 5 lakh and a citation at the Ekalabya Award function.
Besides Tirkey, two other sportspersons will be felicitated for their remarkable performances at various International & National level in their respective fields. They are Athlete Amiya Mallick and Hockey player Deep Grace Ekka, who was a member of the Women’s Indian Olympic team. Both will receive a cash prize of Rs. 50,000 each along with citations. The date for Ekalabya Award function will be announced later.
The Ekalabya Puraskar has been instituted by IMPaCT, the social wing of IMFA, which has been promoting literature, sports, the arts, culture and other socially meaningful activities in the state for decades.
The annual award given to young upcoming sportspersons has acted as a catalyst for sportspersons to excel both at national and international levels.
