The Government has
announced the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna
Award, Arjuna Awards, Dhyan
Chand Awards and Dronacharya
Awards for the year 2011, here today.
A large number of nominations
were received for these awards this year, which were considered by three
select panels of eminent sportspersons
and sports administrators; one headed by Shri Dinesh Khanna, (for Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award, Arjuna Award), one headed by Shri
Satpal (for Dronacharya
Award) and one headed by Secretary (Sports) (for Dhyan
Chand Award).
Based on the recommendations of the Committee and after due scrutiny,
the Government has approved to confer awards upon the following sportspersons /
coaches / organizations:
A. Rajiv Gandhi Khel
Ratna Award - 2011:
|
1.
|
Shri Gagan
Narang
|
Shooting
|
B. Arjuna Awards 2011:
|
Sl.
No.
|
Name
|
Discipline
|
|
1.
|
Shri Rahul
Banerjee
|
Archery
|
|
2.
|
Ms.
Preeja Sreedharan
|
Athletics
|
|
3.
|
Shri Vikas
Gowda
|
Athletics
|
|
4.
|
Ms.
Jwala Gutta
|
Badminton
|
|
5.
|
Shri M. Suranjoy
Singh
|
Boxing
|
|
6.
|
Shri Zaheer
Khan
|
Cricket
|
|
7.
|
Shri Sunil Chhetri
|
Football
|
|
8.
|
Shri Ashish
Kumar
|
Gymnastics
|
|
9
|
Shri Rajpal
Singh
|
Hockey
(Men)
|
|
10.
|
Shri Rakesh
Kumar
|
Kabaddi (Men)
|
|
11.
|
Ms.
Tejeswini Bai V.
|
Kabaddi (Women)
|
|
12.
|
Ms.
Tejaswini Ravindra Sawant
|
Shooting
|
|
13.
|
Shri Veerdhawal
Vikram Khade
|
Swimming
|
|
14.
|
Shri Somdev
Kishore Devvarman
|
Tennis
|
|
15.
|
Shri Sanjay Kumar
|
Volleyball
|
|
16.
|
Shri Ravinder
Singh
|
Wrestling
|
|
17.
|
Naib Subedar
Katulu Ravikumar
|
Weightlifting
|
|
18.
|
Ms.
Wangkhem Sandhyarani Devi
|
Wushu
|
|
19.
|
Shri Prasantha
Karamakar
|
Swimming
- Paralympics
|
Normally not more than 15 Arjuna awards are to be given in any calendar year. However, the Scheme of Arjuna
Awards also provides that keeping in view the performance of Indian
sportspersons in the Commonwealth, Asian Games and Olympic Games during a
particular year, Arjuna Awards exceeding 15 in number
may be allowed with proper justification and approval of the Minister for Youth
Affairs & Sports. The Committee
noted that Asian Games and Commonwealth Games were held in the year 2010,
wherein the performance of Indian sportspersons was exceptional. Keeping this factor in view, the Committee
recommended that the number of Awards for 2011 may be exceeded beyond 15. Therefore, the Committee recommended 19 sportspersons for Arjuna awards. The Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports
has approved the recommendation of the Selection Committee for exceeding the
number of Arjuna Awards from 15 to 19 this year.
C. Dronacharya
Awards for 2011:
|
Sl. No.
|
Name
|
Discipline
|
|
1.
|
Shri Inukurthi
Venkateshwara Rao
|
Boxing
|
|
2.
|
Shri Devender
Kumar Rathore
|
Gymnastics
|
|
3.
|
Shri Ramphal
|
Wrestling
|
|
4.
|
Dr.
Kuntal Roy
|
Athletics
*
|
|
5.
|
Shri Rajinder
Singh
|
Hockey
*
|
*
Life Time Achievement
D. Dhyan Chand
Awards for 2011
|
S. No.
|
Name
|
Discipline
|
|
1.
|
Shri Shabbir Ali
|
Football
|
|
2.
|
Shri Sushil Kohli
|
Swimming
|
|
3.
|
Shri Rajkumar
|
Wrestling
|
National Sports Awards are given
every year to recognize and reward excellence in sports. Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award is given for spectacular performance in the
year under consideration; Arjuna Award is given for
consistently outstanding performance for three consecutive years preceding the
year of award; Dronacharya Award for producing medal
winners at prestigious international sports events in the past three years and Dhyan Chand Award for life time
contribution to sports development.
Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna
Award is given to only one sportsperson in a year. Arjuna
Award is given to not more than 15, Dhyan
Chand Award to not more
than 3 and Dronacharya
Award to not more than 5 persons
Apart from a medal and a citation,
Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Awardee will receive a cash prize of Rs.7.5 lakh. Arjuna, Dronacharya and Dhyan Chand Awardees will receive
statuettes, citations and cash prize of Rs.5 lakh
each.
The awardees will receive their
awards from Her Excellency the President of India at a specially organized
function at the Rashtrapati Bhawan
on August 29, 2011
RM/RS