President Droupadi Murmu Presents 14-Year-Old Yogita Mandavi With Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Bal Puraskar

From a remote, Maoist-affected village in Chhattisgarh’s Kondagaon district to being honoured with the Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Bal Puraskar for her remarkable sporting achievements, the journey of 14-year-old judo player Yogita Mandavi is one of determination, resilience, and quiet strength.

President Droupadi Murmu conferred the award at a ceremony at Vigyan Bhavan in New Delhi on Friday. Children from across the country were recognised for their excellence in fields such as sports, innovation, social service, art, and culture.

Born in Hirri village under the Farasgaon block of Kondagaon, Yogita has made a name for herself in national-level judo, overcoming significant personal losses and social challenges.