Purnima Hembram receives Ekalabya Award 2014

The Indian Metals Public Charitable Trust (IMPaCT) conferred the Ekalabya Award 2014 on leading Athlete of the state, Purnima Hembram. Apart from her, Cricketer Rasanara Parbin and Rower Manjula Xess were also felicitated at the occasion.

Purnima, who won a gold medal in Women’s Heptathlon event at the 15th Asian Junior Athletics Championship 2012 held in Sri Lanka and a silver medal in the Heptathlon event at the 53rd National Open Athletics Championship 2013 held in Ranchi, received the Ekalabya Award, which carried a cash reward of Rs 2 lakh, a citation and a memento. She received the award from former Test cricketer Ajay Jadeja.

Indian Premier League (IPL) chairman and Rajya Sabha MP Ranjib Biswal felicitated cricketer Rasanara Parbin and Rower Manjula Xess with a memento and Rs 50,000 each for their significant performance in respective sports.

Apart from Ajay Jadeja and Ranjib Biswal, IMPaCT Trustee and Lok Sabha member Baijayant Panda was also present at the occasion. The Ekalabya Award was instituted by IMPaCT in 1993 to give honour, recognition and assistance to talented sportspersons from Odisha.