Biju Patnaik Sports Award 2021 announced: Amit Rohidas selected for Best Player of The Year Award

Bhubaneswar: Odisha government on Thursday announced the winners of the Biju Patnaik Sports Award 2021. Indian Men’s Hockey Team defender and drag-flicker Amit Rohidas has been selected for the Player of The Year Award.

Rohidas has been selected for the prestigious award for his outstanding performance in Sports and Games. Rohidas played an instrumental role in India’s backline as well as PC defending in the recently concluded Tokyo Olympics Games where India ended the 41-year wait to win an Olympic Medal.

The hockey star from Sundargarh district has been a regular feature in the Indian team after making a comeback in 2017 and has been part of some of the biggest feats in Indian hockey.

Likewise, Hockey Coach Kalu Charan Choudhury won the Biju Patnaik Sports Award for Lifetime Achievement in promotion of Sports and Games while Siba Prasad has been selected for the Coach of The Year award.

However, the Biju Patnaik Sports Award for excellence in Sports Journalism has been reportedly canceled this year.

Odisha Chief Minister, Naveen Patnaik is slated to confer the prestigious award for the year 2021 on the occasion of National Sports Day on August 19.

The National Sports Day is observed to mark the birth anniversary of hockey player Major Dhyan Chand.