New Delhi: Devendra Jhajharia and Sardar Singh received the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna from President Ram Nath Kovind, here on Tuesday. The president also conferred National Sports & Adventure Awards 2017 to other sportspersons in a ceremony held at the Rashtrapati Bhawan.
Jhajharia became the first para athlete to receive India's highest sporting honour along with hockey star Sardar Singh. Javelin thrower Jhajharia is the only Indian to win two Paralympic gold medals -- 2004 Athens Games and 2016 Rio Paralympics. Star mid-fielder Sardar has been the architect of India hockey team's many victories in the last few years.
However, cricketer Cheteshwar Pujara, one of the 17 Arjuna Awardees chosen this year, did not attend the ceremony at the Rashtrapati Bhawan due to his County commitments in England.
Meanwhile, President Kovind also interacted with 14 Young Sports achievers who attended the award ceremony. Four of them were Gold medalists in Asian School Championships for Athletics 2015, 1 Gold medalist in Asian School Championship for Swimming 2016 and 9 were Gold medalists in Gymnasiade conducted by International School Sport Federation in 2016.
Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Youth Affairs and Sports Vijay Goel were among the dignitaries present on the occasion.
(i) Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna 2017
Following sportspersons were conferred with Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna 2017.
|
S. N. |
Name of Awardee |
Discipline |
|
1. |
Shri Sardar Singh |
Hockey |
|
2. |
Shri Devendra |
Para-Athletics |
(ii) Dronacharya Awards 2017
Following coaches were conferred with Dronacharya Awards for the year 2017.
|
S. N. |
Name of Awardees |
Discipline |
|
Dr. R. Gandhi (Posthumously) |
Athletics |
|
|
Shri G.S.S.V. Prasad |
Badminton- Lifetime |
|
|
Shri Braja Bhusan Mohanty |
Boxing-Lifetime |
|
|
Shri P.A. Raphael |
Hockey-Lifetime |
|
|
Shri Sanjoy Chakraverthy |
Shooting-Lifetime |
|
|
Shri Roshan Lal |
Wrestling-Lifetime |
The Award for Late Dr. R. Gandhi was received by his wife Dr. Sailaxmi Gandhi.
(iii) Arjuna Awards 2017
Following sportspersons were conferred with Arjuna Awards for the year 2017:
|
S. N. |
Name of Awardees |
Discipline |
|
1. |
Ms. Vennam Jyothi Surekha |
Archery |
|
2. |
Ms. Khushbir Kaur |
Athletics |
|
3. |
Shri Arokia Rajiv |
Athletics |
|
4. |
Ms. Prashanti Singh |
Basketball |
|
5. |
Sub. L. Debendro Singh |
Boxing |
|
6. |
Shri Cheteshwar Pujara |
Cricket |
|
7. |
Ms. Harmanpreet Kaur |
Cricket |
|
8. |
Ms. Oinam Bembem Devi |
Football |
|
9. |
Shri Shivsankar Prasad Chawrasia |
Golf |
|
10. |
Shri S.V. Sunil |
Hockey |
|
11. |
Shri Jasvir Singh |
Kabaddi |
|
12. |
Shri P.N. Prakash |
Shooting |
|
13. |
Shri A. Amalraj |
Table Tennis |
|
14. |
Shri Saketh Sai Myneni |
Tennis |
|
15. |
Shri Satyawart Kadian |
Wrestling |
|
16. |
Shri Mariyappan T. |
Para-Athletics |
|
17. |
Shri Varun Singh Bhati |
Para-Athletics |
(iv) Dhyan Chand Award 2017
Following persons were conferred with Dhyan Chand Awards for the year 2017:
|
S. N. |
Name of Awardees |
Discipline |
|
1. |
Shri Bhupender Singh |
Athletics |
|
2. |
Shri Syed Shahid Hakim |
Football |
|
3. |
Ms. Sumrai Tete |
Hockey |
(v) Tenzing Norgay National Adventure Award 2017
Following persons were conferred with Tenzing Norgay National Adventure Awards for the year 2017.
|
S. N. |
Name of Awardees |
Discipline |
|
1. |
Smt. Premlata Agrawal |
Land Adventure |
|
2. |
Shri More Rohan Dattatrey |
Water Adventure |
|
3. |
Shri Ashok Abbey |
Life Time Achievement |
|
4. |
Shri Ved Prakash Sharma |
Life Time Achievement |
(vi) Maulana Abul Kalam Azad (MAKA) Trophy 2016-17
Punjabi University, Patiala was conferred with Maulana Abul Kalam Azad Trophy for the year 2016-17.
|
S. N. |
Name of Awardee |
|
|
1. |
Punjabi University, Patiala |
Winner |
(vii) Rashtriya Khel Protsahana Purushkar, 2017
Following entities were conferred with Rashtriya Khel Protsahan Puruskarar for the year 2017.
|
S. N. |
Name of Awardees |
Category
|
|
1. |
Identification and Nurturing of Budding and Young Talent |
Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan (KVS) |
|
2. |
Encourage to sports through corporate social responsibility |
Odisha Industrial Infrastructure Development Corporation (IDCO) |
|
3. |
Sports for Development |
The Golf Foundation |
|
4. |
Sports for Development |
Reliance Foundation |
