Recipients of the Biju Patnaik state sports award in Bhubaneswar. Picture by Sanjib Mukherjee

Bhubaneswar, March 5: After a gap of four years, the Biju Patnaik sports awards were presented to talented sportspersons of the state today. Chief minister Naveen Patnaik gave away the awards at Jaydev Bhawan this evening.

Instituted in the year 2001-02 by the sports and youth affairs department of the state, the awards are given for outstanding performances in sports and games and is the highest state-level honour for sportspersons.

The awards for 2007, 2008 and 2009 were presented together today.

Veteran athlete Usha Rani Mishra, long-jumper Hemanta Kumar Patel and marathon runner Bibekananda Tripathy received the 2007, 2008 and 2009 lifetime achievement awards respectively.

Chess player Padmini Rout received the 2007 award for outstanding performance while athlete Srabani Nanda was awarded the same for 2008.

“The award is very special thought it came late. It refreshed my 2007 memories. At present, I am looking forward to other championships that are going to take place this year,” said Rout, who is preparing for her Class XII exams.

The award for Nanda, who bagged a bronze in a team event at the 2010 Commonwealth Games, was collected by her mother Subhasini Raiguru since she was training in Australia.

Former national hockey captain Prabodh Tirkey received the award for 2009. The coaching awards were given to Chittaranjan Mohapatra, Nila Madhab Deo and Kalu Charan Choudhary. Sports journalists were also awarded.

Apart from the sports awards, youth awards in the categories of organisations and individuals dedicated to social service and national development, Odissi dance and music, literature, painting and graphics for the years 2007-08 and 2008-09 were also conferred.

The Biju Patnaik Bravery Award for the year 2008-09 was awarded to Keshab Chandra Swain.

These awards were given away by State Youth Welfare Board.

Speaking on the occasion, chief minister Naveen Patnaik announced that the government was thinking of setting up a sports complex in the city for sports talents hailing from tribal areas.