The Chief Minister also felicitated six other Odia girls, who participated in the Rio Olympics including two sprinters- Dutee Chand and Srabani Nanda, four women hockey players from Odisha- Deep Grace Ekka, Namita Toppo, Lilima Minz and Sunita Lakra.
While Purnima Hembram got Rs 2 lakh for the Biju Patnaik Sports Award for the year 2015, all the six players were given Rs 5 lakh each by the state govenrment.
Meanwhile, Abinash Mishra received Rs 1 lakh for the Biju Patnaik Bravery Award.
Meanwhile, Odisha Cricket Association (OCA) Secretary Ashirbad Behera was awarded the best Sports Organiser Award whereas P Dharma Rao was awarded Best Coach Award. Similarly, Prominent sports journalist Tanmay Das was also felicitated by the Chief Minister.