Bhubaneswar : 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.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.The shuttler expressed his gratitude towards the chief minister for the continuous support and motivation in his Olympic journey. 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 VK Pandian, Sports and Youth Services Secretary R Vineel Krishna, sportspersons and officials of the Sports department were also a part of the ceremony.After winning a Gold medal in the Tokyo Paralympics 2020, ace shuttler Pramod returned to home state this afternoon. Amid beats of dhol and cheers, Pramod was given a heroic welcome at the Biju Patnaik International Airport by the State government. The shuttler said 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.