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Bhubaneswar, June 14: Saheed Sporting Club and Maruti Estate honoured Orissa cricketers Deepak Behera and Swagatika Rath with ‘Cricketer of the Year’ and ‘Women’s Cricketer of the Year’ awards at a function here Sunday. Indian spinner Pragyan Ojha was present on the occasion and handed over the trophies to the recipients.
In addition to the trophies, both Deepak and Swagatika received Rs 31,000 and Rs 21,000 respectively. During the
function, the club released
commemorative stamps in the names of Ojha, former Orissa cricketers Shiv Sundar Das, Debashis Mohanty and Rashmi Ranjan Parida, former hockey players Dilip Tirkey and Lazarus Barla and Indian junior women’s football team’s assistant coach Shraddhanjali Samantray.
The club also feted Ojha, Debashis, Shiv Sundar, Shraddhanjali, Deepak Mangraj and Basant Mohanty with mementos. Speaking on the occasion, Ojha recounted his childhood days, which he spent in the state. “I began my career in this very club after joining a summer camp. I would like to thank the club officials and Shasank Das, my coach, in particular for guiding me
during my stint at the club,” said Ojha.
Swagatika was elated to get the Women’s Cricketer of the Year award. “This award means a lot to me, I would like to thank the club for bestowing this honour on me,” said Swagatika.