Bhubaneswar: Odisha-born athletic coach Sanjay Garnaik‘s name has been recommended for the prestigious Dronacharya Award this year.

Garnaik, coach of the India junior squad, is the first Odia athletic coach whose name was sent for the top award by Athletics Federation of India (AFI).

He is currently preparing for the 3rd South Asian Junior Athletics Championships to be held from May 5-6, 2018 in Colombo, Sri Lanka.

The AFI also recommended Bobby Aloysius, Kuldeep Singh Bhullar and Jata Shankar for the Dhyanchand Award, while sending TP Ouseph's name to the ministry for Lifetime Achievement Award.