Harmanpreet Kaur and Cheteshwar Pujara Among 17 Atheletes Conferred With The Arjuna Award
Aug 29, 2017 at 6:36 PM
President of India Ram Nath Kovind conferred prestigious sports awards on Tuesday to celebrate National Sports Day on the birth anniversary of hockey legend Major Dhyan Chand. The felicitation took place at the Rashtrapati Bhawan.
A total of 17 athletes were honoured with the Arjuna awards for their outstanding contribution in the field of sports. The award carries a cash prize of Rs.5,00,000, a bronze statue of Arjuna and a scroll.
Here is the list of athletes who were conferred with the Arjuna Award
Cheteshwar Pujara, Harmanpreet Kaur, Mariyappan Thangavelu, Varun Bhati, SSP Chaurasia, Saketh Myneni, Khusbir Kaur, Aarokiya Rajiv, Prashanti Singh, SV Sunil, Satyawrat Kadian, Anthony Amalraj, PN Prakash, Jyothi Surekha Vennam, Jasvir Singh, Devendro Singh and Bembem Devi.
All the athletes were in attendance except Pujara who had to, unfortunately, miss due to his commitment to Nottinghamshire County Cricket.
Legends Sardar Singh and Devendra Chawrasia Honoured With Khel Ratna
Former hockey captain Sardar Singh and Paralympian javelin thrower Devendra Jhajharia received Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna awards, the highest sporting honour of India.
The award comprises of a medallion, a certificate, and a cash prize of ₹7.5 lakh and is given in honour for “spectacular and most outstanding performance in the field of sports over a period of four years” at international level.
Lifetime achievement and Dronacharya awards
Outstanding coaches were also rewarded for their contribution to the sports world with the Dronacharya Award.
The ones who received the awards were – Late Dr. R. Gandhi (Athletics), Heera Nand Kataria (Kabaddi), GSSV Prasad (Badminton-lifetime), Brij Bhushan Mohanty (Boxing – Lifetime), Mr. P.A. Raphel (Hockey – Lifetime), Sanjoy Chakraverthy (Shooting – Lifetime), Mr. Roshan Lal (Wrestling – Lifetime).
Bhupender Singh, Syed Shahid Hakim and Sumarai Tete received the Dhyanchand awards for their lifetime achievement in sports and games.