National Sports Awards are given every year to recognize and reward excellence in sports. Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award is given for the spectacular and most outstanding performance in the field of sports by a sportsperson over a period of four year, Arjuna Award is given for consistency outstanding performance for four years, Dronacharya Award for coaches for producing medal winners at prestigious International sports events, Dhyan Chand Award for life time contribution to sports development.

 

A large number of nominations were received for these awards this year, which were considered by the Selection Committees consisting of former Olympian, Arjuna Awardees, Dronacharya Awardees, Dhyan Chand Awardees, Sport Journalists/ Experts/ Commentators and sports administrators. Selection Committee for Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award and Arjuna Awards was headed by Justice C.K. Thakkar (Former Judge Supreme Court of India, Chief Justice of High Court of Himachal and Bombay). Selection Committee for Dronacharya Awards and Dhyan Chand Awards was headed by Shri Pullela Gopichand.

 

Based on the recommendations of the Committee and after due scrutiny, the Government has decided to confer awards upon the following sportspersons/coaches/organisations :

 

(i)         Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna 2017

 

S. No.	Name of the Awardee	discipline
1.	Shri Devendra	Para Athlete
2.	Shri Sardar Singh	Hockey

 

(ii)        Dronacharya Awards 2017

 

S. No.	Name of the Awardee	Discipline
1.	Late Dr. R. Gandhi	Athletics
2.	Mr. Heera Nand Kataria	Kabaddi
3.	Mr. G.S.S.V. Prasad	Badminton (Lifetime)
4.	Mr. Brij Bhushan Mohanty	Boxing (Lifetime)
5.	Mr. P.A. Raphel	Hockey (Lifetime)
6.	Mr. Sanjoy Chakraverthy	Shooting (Lifetime)
7.	Mr. Roshan Lal	Wrestling (Lifetime)

 

 

 

(iii)       Arjuna Awards 2017

 

S. No.	Name of the Awardees	Discipline
1.	Ms. V.J. Surekha	Archery
2.	Ms. Khushbir Kaur	Athletics
3.	Mr. Arokia Rajiv	Athletics
4.	Ms. Prasanthi Singh	Basketball
5.	Sub. LaishramDebendro Singh	Boxing
6.	Mr. CheteshwarPujara	Cricket
7.	Ms. Harmanpreet Kaur	Cricket
8.	Ms. OinamBembem Devi	Football
9.	Mr. S.S.P. Chawrasia	Golf
10.	Mr. S.V. Sunil	Hockey
11.	Mr. Jasvir Singh	Kabaddi
12.	Mr. P. N. Prakash	Shooting
13.	Mr. A. Amalraj	Table Tennis
14.	Mr. SakethMyneni	Tennis
15.	Mr. SatyawartKadian	Wrestling
16.	Mr. Mariyappan	Para-Athlete
17.	Mr. Varun Singh Bhati	Para-Athlete

 

 

(iv)       Dhyan Chand Award

 

S. No.	Name (S/Shri)	Discipline
1 .	Mr. Bhupender Singh	Athletics
2.	Mr. Syed Shahid Hakim	Football
3.	Ms. Sumarai Tete	Hockey

 

The awardees will received their awards from the President of India at a specially organized function at the Rashtrapati Bhawan on August 29, 2017.

 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 received statuettes, certificates and cash prize of Rs. 5 lakh each.

 

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