Bhubaneswar: In a grand ceremony at the Kalinga Stadium on Saturday, Odisha-based Sports Science India (SSI) celebrated sporting excellence by conferring Lifetime Achievement Awards on Olympic weightlifting medallist Karnam Malleswari and former Indian football team captain Bruno Coutinho. The event, held on Saturday at the Tennis Auditorium, witnessed the presence of dignitaries such as Odisha Deputy Chief Minister Kanak Vardhan Singh Deo, Hockey India president Dilip Tirkey, SSI founder Dr. Sarthak Patnaik, and SNM Group director Prabodh Mohanty.
Reflecting on her journey, Malleswari highlighted the evolving focus on sports science, emphasizing the advancements made in physiotherapy and rehabilitation services, which were lacking during her time. She lauded SSI as a leading sports medicine and rehab center capable of addressing these gaps domestically.
Coutinho expressed concerns about the current approach of some athletes, remarking on a shift in priorities from playing for national pride to monetary incentives. He also called for a deeper commitment from players to elevate Indian football to greater heights.
In addition to the Lifetime Achievement Awards, numerous athletes and contributors to sports were honored across various categories:
SSI Karna Award: Swimmer Aneesh S Gowda, weightlifter Sathish Sivalingam, cyclist Swasti Singh, racer Aditya Thakur, sprinters Sandeep Kumar and Sneha SS, gymnast Pranati Nayak, and badminton star Anmol Kharb.
SSI Milkha Singh Sprint Champion Award: Odia sprinter Lalu Prasad Bhoi and Nithya Gandhe.
SSI Emerging Player Award: Sprinter Animesh Kujur.
Dilip Tirkey Hockey Best Player Award: Shilanand Lakra.
SSI Paika Team Award: Indian Hockey Team.
SSI Best Coach and Grassroots Coach Awards: Vimal Kumar (national badminton coach) and Abdul Hakim Giri (Indian women’s ice hockey team coach).
SSI Sports Development and Journalism Awards: JSW Sports and Dipti Ranjan Samal.
The ceremony underscored SSI’s commitment to nurturing talent and advancing the role of sports science in India, while honoring the dedication and achievements of athletes and mentors who continue to inspire the nation.
