Overview

• The Assam Olympic Association presented the inaugural six-category awards at the Srimanta Sankardeva International Auditorium on State Sports Day, attended by CM Himanta Biswa Sarma, Union minister Sarbananda Sonowal and Bhogeswar Baruah.
• National honorees included Manu Bhaker as Best Sportsperson, Sunil Chhetri for Lifetime Achievement and weightlifter Bedabrat Bharali as Emerging Player.
• Assam-level awards went to Lovlina Borgohain (Best Sportsperson), former shuttler Dipankar Bhattacharjee (Lifetime Achievement) and table tennis player Priyanuj Bhattacharyya (Emerging Player).
• Sarma announced the Sarusajai venue will be known as the Arjun Bhogeswar Baruah Sports Complex and detailed job appointments and cash rewards to recent medallists.
• The chief minister cited sports infrastructure schemes of about Rs 3,000 crore across constituencies, while reports differ on whether the new awards will be annual or biennial.