Bhubaneswar:29/8/17; Eminent boxing coach from Odisha, Braja Bhushan Mohanty, received the prestigious Dronacharya Award from President Ram Nath Kovind today on the occasion of National Sports Day at Rashtrapati Bhawan.
He received the award for his lifetime contribution to boxing.
Mohanty is the first Odia to receive the award for his immense contribution towards boxing. He is a resident of Badakhemundi, Berhampur and kicked off his career as a boxing coach in defence.
Following retirement from defence service in 2013, he was appointed as the chief coach of Jharkhand boxing team. He was in the Indian coach team for boxing from 2002 till 2011.
Besides Mohanty, the President also gave away the Dronacharya Awards to Late R. Gandhi (athletics), Heera Nand Kataria (kabaddi), G.S.S.V. Prasad (badminton, lifetime), P.A. Raphel (hockey, lifetime), Sanjoy Chakravorty (shooting, lifetime) and Roshan Lal (wrestling, lifetime).
The prestigious Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award was given to former India hockey team captain Sardar Singh and Paralympian javelin thrower Devendra Jhajharia.