The Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Youth Affairs & Sports, Shri Vijay Goel here today conferred Arjuna Awards to cricketers Rohit Sharma and Ajinkya Rahane in a function held at Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium. Rohit Sharma was conferred Arjuna Award for the year 2015 and Ajinkya Rahane for the year 2016. Sharma and Rahane could not earlier receive the Arjuna Awards from the President of India, as they were participating in international tournaments.

Speaking on the occasion Shri Goel said that  while there is no doubt that  cricket is among the most popular game in India, the current government under the leadership of Prime Minister shri Narendra Modi is committed to promote indigenous  and other sports as well. He said , the recent success of Athletes at Paralympics , 2016 has made every Indian proud.

The Arjuna Awards, instituted in 1961, are given to sportspersons for consistently outstanding performance for four years preceding the year of award and who have also shown qualities of leadership, sportsmanship and a sense of discipline. The awardees are given a statuette, a certificate, ceremonial dress and award money of Rs. 5 lakh.

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