Dikhyaa Mohanty 
Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik congratulated ace shuttler and Tokyo 2020 Paralympics Gold medalist, Pramod Bhagat on being recommended for the Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award.
According to the reports, he has been recommended for Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award along with 10 other medal winners at the Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics 2020. He is a four-time world championship gold medalist, defeated Great Britain’s Daniel Bethell at Tokyo Paralympics, to win India’s historic gold in Para Badminton’s debut at the event. He is the first sportsperson/athlete from Odisha to have been nominated for the highest sporting honour, Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna (Sport Jewel) which was formerly known as the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award.
Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik quoted in Twitter – “ Congratulate #Odisha‘s ace shuttler and #Tokyo2020 Paralympics Gold medalist @PramodBhagat83 on being recommended for the Major Dhyanchand #KhelRatnaAward. May you achieve bigger milestones in your sporting career and continue to make Odisha and the entire nation proud.”
Bhagat is the first sportsperson/athlete from Odisha to have been nominated for the highest sporting honour Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna (Sport Jewel) which was formerly known as the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award.
