March 8, 2022: Odisha hockey Olympian Birendra Lakra and former basketball international Arupananda Routray have been selected for the Annual Awards of Odisha Sports Journalists’ Association (OSJA) for the year 2021. This was announced by OSJA President Sandeep Mishra today.

Vice-captain of the Indian men’s hockey team that won the bronze medal at the 2021 Tokyo Olympics, defender Lakra would be conferred with the OSJA Sportsperson of the Year Award, while State basketball legend Routray would be bestowed with OSJA Lifetime Achievement Award.

The prestigious awards would be conferred on the occasion of the seventh Foundation Day Function of OSJA in Bhubaneswar on March 21. The awards will carry a cheque of Rs 25,000 each along with a special trophy and citation.

Lakra, who also represented India in 2012 London Olympics, helped India win gold medal at Incheon Asian Games and silver medal at the Glasgow Commonwealth Games in 2014.