Bhubaneswar: Odisha’s sporting excellence was celebrated in grand fashion as ace shuttler Swetaparna Panda received the 33rd Ekalabya Puraskar at a glittering ceremony held at the Mayfair Convention Sunday. The coveted honour, instituted by IMPaCT and managed by IMFA, carries a cash award of ₹7 lakh along with the prestigious trophy.
Swetaparna Panda: Odisha’s Shining Badminton Talent
Born on 29 June 2005, Swetaparna Panda is one of India’s most promising badminton players. A former trainee of the Gopichand Badminton Academy in Hyderabad, she now trains in Cuttack with her elder sister and doubles partner Rutaparna Panda.
The Panda sisters have earned widespread recognition for rewriting history when they clinched the gold medal in women’s doubles at the BWF Tajikistan International Series 2023, becoming the first-ever Indian sister duo to win an international badminton title. The historic victory marked a milestone moment for Indian badminton and established the sisters as a formidable pairing on the international circuit.
Recently, the duo competed at the Japan Open Super 750, where they battled hard but fell in the opening round to Japan’s Kokona Ishikawa and Maiko Kawazoe. Despite the early exit, the pair continues to grow in stature with consistent performances in global events.
Swetaparna’s rising trajectory, historic achievements, and commitment to excellence earned her the prestigious Ekalabya Puraskar 2025.
Citation Awardees: Priteesmita Bhoi & Aahan
Priteesmita Bhoi: World Youth Record-Breaking Weightlifter
Odisha’s young weightlifting phenom Priteesmita Bhoi delivered a sensational performance at the Asian Youth Games 2025 in Manama, Bahrain, where she set a new world youth record in the girls’ 44kg clean and jerk category. Her lift of 92kg made global headlines and positioned her among the world’s finest emerging weightlifters.
She was awarded a Citation and ₹1.5 lakh for her outstanding achievements.
Aahan: India’s No. 1 Junior Tennis Star
Junior tennis sensation Aahan has rapidly risen through the ranks, winning multiple U-14 and U-16 national and international singles and doubles titles. She has represented India at the ITF Asia 14 & Under Development Championship and has held the No. 1 ranking in her age group in the country.
Her remarkable progress and consistency earned her a Citation and ₹1.5 lakh at the ceremony.
Dignitaries Grace the Ceremony
The event was attended by distinguished guests, including Pitambar Acharya, Advocate General of Odisha – Chief Guest
Prakash Mishra, Advisor to the Chief Minister of Odisha – Guest of Honour
Baijayant Panda, Chairman, Ekalabya Puraskar Committee-2025 & Trustee, IMPaCT.
Established in 1993 by IMPaCT and managed by IMFA, the Ekalabya Puraskar is widely recognised as Odisha’s most prestigious sports award, honouring exceptional young athletes for their performances over the previous two years. Many past recipients have gone on to achieve national and international acclaim, making the award a powerful platform for nurturing sporting excellence in the stat
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