Vijayawada: Matrapu Jessiraj, a 14-year-old athlete from Mangalagiri in Guntur district, was honoured with the Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Bal Puraskar on Thursday. President of India, Droupadi Murmu, presented the Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Bal Puraskar to 17 children from different fields.
The award honours extraordinary services in seven different categories, which include culture, bravery, innovation, science and technology, sports, social service, and environment.
Jessiraj, a class IX student at a private school in Vijayawada, excelled in skating since the age of nine. Withsupport from her parents, Radha and Suresh, and under the guidance of her coach Simhadri, Jessiraj achieved remarkable success in national and international competitions, amassing over 50 medals and awards.
In June this year, Jessiraj won a gold medal in the inline free skating category during a prestigious competition held in New Zealand, further cementing her reputation as a rising star in the world of skating.
