Bhubaneswar: Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik today felicitated Kishore Jena with a cash award of Rs 50 lakh for his outstanding performance in the Javelin throw and for reaching the finals of the prestigious World Athletics Championship that recently concluded in Budapest, Hungary.

This is the first time that an Odisha athlete has reached this level.

In a historic first for the World Athletics Championships, three Indian athletes secured their positions in the men's Javelin final including Kishore from Odisha. He further strengthened his position in the javelin world when he finished 5th with a personal best of 84.77 m and made his State very proud while also making an impression on the Athletics fraternity of the world.

The CM highly praised Kishore Jena's incredible achievement and also congratulated the athlete on his remarkable accomplishment and presented him with the cash award.

“Kishore Jena's success is not just his own; it is a source of pride for all of us in Odisha. His remarkable journey to the finals of the World Athletics Championship serves as an inspiration to our youth and a testament to the talent that our state possesses. We are committed to supporting and nurturing such talent in the field of sports,” Chief Minister Patnaik said.