Sunelita Toppo Named 34th Ekalabya Puraskar Winner for Excellence in Hockey
Bhubaneswar: Emerging hockey star Sunelita Toppo has been selected for the prestigious 34th Ekalabya Puraskar, one of Odisha’s highest recognitions for young sportspersons.
The decision was taken unanimously by the Ekalabya Puraskar Committee during a jury meeting held in Bhubaneswar.
The award recognises Sunelita Toppo’s outstanding achievements and contributions to hockey at the national and international levels.
She will receive a cash prize of ₹7 lakh along with a trophy at a special award ceremony.
In addition to the main award, citation awards have been announced for hockey player Amandeep Lakra and badminton player Tanvi Patri.
Each recipient will be awarded ₹1.5 lakh and a citation in recognition of their sporting accomplishments.
The Ekalabya Puraskar was instituted in 1993 by the Indian Metals Public Charitable Trust (IMPaCT), the charitable arm of IMFA, to encourage and honour outstanding young athletes from Odisha.
Over the years, the award has emerged as a symbol of sporting excellence in the state.
Speaking on the occasion, Baijayant Panda, Chairperson of the Ekalabya Puraskar Committee and Trustee of IMPaCT, said the award continues its three-decade legacy of recognising talented sportspersons and inspiring future generations of athletes.
The recognition of Sunelita Toppo highlights Odisha’s growing prominence in Indian sports, particularly in hockey, a discipline that has produced several international talents from the state.
