The State’s Ekalavya awards for 2014 were presented to 15 sportspersons for their outstanding performance in their chosen sport, here on Tuesday.
Chief Minister Siddaramaiah gave away the awards at the packed Senate Bhavan organised by the Department of Youth Empowerment and Sports.
The award carries a cash prize of Rs. 2 lakh, besides an impressive trophy.
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In recognition of their exceptional service in the field of sports and mentoring sporting talent, the Lifetime Achievement awards were presented for the year 2014 to four persons.
Even the Karnataka Kreeda Rathna-2014 awards were given away for encouraging and promoting indigenous and rural sports, to 10 persons.
Addressing the gathering, Mr. Siddaramaiah promised to release more funds if the Sports Department comes up with new projects that help push sports and bring a name to the State.
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Those who bagged Ekalavya awards are: Aravind M. (swimming), Akash Aradhya (rollerskating), Kyathi S. Vakhariya (athletics), Sannuvanda Kushalappa Uthappa (hockey), Mallaprabha Y. Jadhav (judo), Twisha K.(kayaking), Purushotama K. (rifle shooting), Vineet Manuel (badminton), Sushmita Pawar O. (kabaddi), Sharmada Balu (tennis), Archana Girish Kamath (table tennis), Nisha Joseph (volleyball), Lokesh N. (gymnastics), Lakshman C. Kurani (cycling) and Niranjan M. (para swimming).
Prabhakar I. Devangavi received the Lifetime Achievement award for hockey, while H. Chandrashekar and Sridhar Kumar bagged the awards for football and kabaddi respectively. I. Amal Das got the award for his contribution to boxing.
Those who bagged the Karnataka Kreeda Rathna awards include Kavya M.R. (ball badminton), Vinod Rathod, Dundappa Dasannavar (Mallakamba), Roopashri B.K. (kabaddi), Karthik G. Kati (wrestling), Yogesh (kho-kho), Anil Kumar H. Shettar (Yoga), Jayakara Yane Madiwala (kambala), Kolachur Kondottu Sukumara Shetty (kambala), and Ibrahim Sab (lifting heavy stones).