Indian Sporting Heroes Honored at Prestigious Awards Ceremony
The Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar became the epicenter of sporting celebration on Saturday as Sports Science India (SSI) hosted its annual awards ceremony. Over 17 international-level athletes and sportspersons were recognized for their outstanding achievements, inspiring a generation of budding athletes across the nation.
## Celebrating Champions: A Showcase of Excellence
The SSI Karna award, a prestigious honor named after the legendary warrior Arjuna, was presented to a stellar lineup of athletes. Karnataka swimmer Aneesh S Gowda, Arjuna awardee weightlifter Sathish Sivalingam, Odia cyclist Swasti Singh, racer Aditya Thakur, sprinters Sandeep Kumar and Sneha SS, Olympian gymnast Pranati Nayak, and badminton sensation Anmol Kharb were all recognized for their exceptional talent and dedication.
The SSI Milkha Singh Sprint Champion award, named after the legendary Indian sprinter, was bestowed upon Odia sprinter Lalu Prasad Bhoi and Nithya Gandhe, highlighting their remarkable speed and prowess on the track.
The SSI Emerging Player award shone a spotlight on the future of Indian sports, with Chhattisgarh sprinter Animesh Kujur receiving the honor.
Meanwhile, the Dilip Tirkey hockey best player award – named after the legendary Indian hockey captain – was proudly accepted by Shilanand Lakra. The SSI Paika team award, recognizing the best hockey team, went to the Indian Hockey team.
## Highlighting Contributions Beyond the Field
The ceremony also acknowledged the invaluable contributions of coaches who shape the careers of these athletes. The SSI Best Coach award was presented to national badminton coach Vimal Kumar, while Abdul Hakim Giri, coach of the Indian women’s Ice Hockey team, received the SSI Grassroots Coach award.
JSW Sports received the SSI Sports Development award for its commitment to nurturing sporting talent, while Dipti Ranjan Samal was honored with the SSI Sports Journalism award for his impactful coverage of Indian sports.
## Inspiring a Nation Through Sport
SSI founder Dr. Sarthak Patnaik emphasized the ceremony’s purpose, stating, “Our award ceremony is a step toward promoting sports in the country. We want to celebrate the achievements of our sportspersons so that thousands of other aspiring athletes are inspired.”
The event was inaugurated by Deputy Chief Minister Kanak Vardhan Singh Deo in the presence of esteemed guests including Hockey India President Dilip Tirkey, Olympic weightlifting medallist Karnam Malleswari, former Indian Football team Captain Bruno Coutinho, and SNM Group Director Prabodh Mohanty.
How does Sports Science India aim to motivate young athletes through this awards ceremony? [[1](https://www.prameyanews.com/sports-science-indias-sports-awards-ceremony-held)]
## Interview with Sports Science India (SSI) Representative
**Interviewer:** Joining us today is [Alex Reed name and title], representing Sports Science India, which hosted a prestigious awards ceremony recognizing outstanding athletes this past Saturday. Welcome to the show!
**Alex Reed:** Thank you for having me.
**Interviewer:** So tell us about the ceremony. What made it so special?
**Alex Reed:** This year’s SSI awards ceremony held at the Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar was truly a celebration of Indian sporting talent. We honored over 17 international-level athletes across various disciplines, inspiring a new generation of athletes.
**Interviewer:** It sounds like an impressive list of awardees. Could you highlight some of the key winners?
**Alex Reed:** Absolutely! We presented the SSI Karma award, named after the legendary warrior Arjuna, to exceptional athletes like swimmer Aneesh S Gowda, weightlifter Sathish Sivalingam, cyclist Swasti Singh, racer Aditya Thakur, sprinter Sandeep Kumar, sprinter Sneha SS, Olympian gymnast Pranati Nayak, and badminton sensation Anmol Kharb.
**Alex Reed:** Then we had the SSI Milkha Singh Sprint Champion award, inspired by the legendary sprinter Milkha Singh, which was awarded to the incredibly fast Lalu Prasad Bhoi and Nithya Gandhe.
**Interviewer:** It’s fantastic to see these athletes being recognized for their hard work and dedication. What message do you hope this ceremony sends?
**Alex Reed**: We want to shine a spotlight on the incredible talent we have in India and motivate young athletes to pursue their sporting dreams. Awards like these are crucial in recognizing and celebrating excellence, pushing our athletes to reach new heights.
**Interviewer:** Wonderful. Thank you so much for sharing these inspiring stories with us. And congratulations again to all the winners!
