Weightlifter Jyotsna Sabar brings PM Rashtriya Bal Puraskar to Odisha

Odisha’s talent shone brightly on the national stage as Jyotsna Sabar, a 17-year-old tribal girl from  Gajapati district, was conferred with the Prime Minister’s Rashtriya Bal Puraskar. Jyotsna has made the state proud with her remarkable achievements in weightlifting.

On Friday, the prestigious award was presented by President Droupadi Murmu, who honoured young achievers for their exceptional contributions across various fields.

20 Young Achievers Honoured on Veer Bal Diwas

On the occasion of Veer Bal Diwas, the Rashtriya Bal Puraskar was awarded to 20 children from across the country. The awards recognised excellence in bravery, art and culture, science, environment, social service and sports. Out of the 20 awardees, two were honoured posthumously for their extraordinary courage.

“I am extremely happy to have met the President of India, Droupadi Murmu. I led my team and won the gold medal, which is a proud moment for me. I hope to achieve many more honours in the future and continue to make India proud,” said gold medallist Jyotsna Sabar.

Cricket Prodigy Also Felicitated

India’s young cricket sensation and IPL star Vaibhav Suryavanshi was also awarded the PM Rashtriya Bal Puraskar for his notable performance in cricket. He received the honour from the President.

Speaking on the occasion, The President of India, Droupadi Murmu congratulated the recipients of the Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Bal Puraskar and said the award winning children have brought pride to their families, communities, and the entire country.

President Murmu expressed confidence that these awards will inspire all children across the country, and stated that this award has been presented to them for their encouragement.

Prime Minister’s Message to the Youth

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi interacted with members of Gen Z and Gen Alpha on the occasion, delivering an inspiring message and encouraging young minds to pursue excellence.

The Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Bal Puraskar is a prestigious national honour conferred annually by the Government of India on children for exceptional excellence in Bravery, Art & Culture, Environment, Social Service, Science & Technology, and Sports. In 2025, 20 children from 18 States and Union Territories have been selected for this honour.

The recognition of young achievers like Jyotsna Sabar highlights India’s commitment to nurturing talent and celebrating youth who inspire the nation through dedication, courage and excellence.