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
years; Arjuna Award is given for consistently 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 and Rashtriya Khel Protsahan Puruskar is given to the
corporate entities (both in private and public sector) and individuals who have
played a visible role in the area of sports promotion and development. Overall
top performing university in inter-university tournaments is given Maulana Abul
Kalam Azad (MAKA) Trophy.
A large number of nominations
were received for these awards this year, which were considered by the
Selection Committees consisting of former Olympians, Arjuna Awardees,
Dronacharya Awardees, Dhyan Chand Awardees, Sports
Journalists/Experts/Commentators and sports administrators. Selection
Committee for Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award and Arjuna Awards was headed by
Justice S.K. Agarwal, Retired Delhi High Court Judge. Selection Committee for
Dronacharya Awards and Dhyan Chand Awards was headed by Ms. M.C. Mary Kom.
Selection Committee for Rashtriya Khel Protsahan Puruskar was headed by Shri Rajiv
Yadav, Secretary (Sports).
Based on the recommendations of
the Committee and after due scrutiny, the Government has decided to confer
awards upon the following sportspersons/ coaches/organizations:
(i) Rajiv
Gandhi Khel Ranta 2016
|
S.
No.
|
Name
of the awardee
|
Discipline
|
|
1.
|
Ms.
P.V. Sindhu
|
Badminton
|
|
2.
|
Ms.
Dipa Karmakar
|
Gymnastics
|
|
3.
|
Shri
Jitu Rai
|
Shooting
|
|
4.
|
Ms.
Sakshi Malik
|
Wrestling
|
(ii) Dronacharya Awards 2016
|
S.No.
|
Name
of the awardee
|
Discipline
|
|
1
|
Shri
Nagapuri Ramesh
|
Athletics
|
|
2
|
Shri
Sagar Mal Dhayal
|
Boxing
|
|
3.
|
Shri
Raj Kumar Sharma
|
Cricket
|
|
4.
|
Shri
Bishweshwar Nandi
|
Gymnastics
|
|
5.
|
Shri S.
Pradeep Kumar
|
Swimming
(Lifetime)
|
|
6.
|
Shri Mahabir
Singh
|
Wrestling
(Lifetime)
|
(iii) Arjuna
Awards 2016
|
S. No.
|
Name
of the awardee
|
Discipline
|
|
1.
|
Shri Rajat Chauhan
|
Archery
|
|
2.
|
Ms. Lalita Babar
|
Athletics
|
|
3.
|
Shri Sourav Kothari
|
Billiards &
Snooker
|
|
4.
|
Shri Shiva Thapa
|
Boxing
|
|
5.
|
Shri Ajinkya Rahane
|
Cricket
|
|
6.
|
Shri Subrata Paul
|
Football
|
|
7.
|
Ms. Rani
|
Hockey
|
|
8.
|
Shri Raghunath V.R.
|
Hockey
|
|
9.
|
Shri Gurpreet Singh
|
Shooting
|
|
10.
|
Ms. Apurvi Chandela
|
Shooting
|
|
11.
|
Shri Soumyajit Ghosh
|
Table Tennis
|
|
12.
|
Ms. Vinesh
|
Wrestling
|
|
13.
|
Shri Amit Kumar
|
Wrestling
|
|
14.
|
Shri Sandeep Singh
Mann
|
Para-Athletics
|
|
15.
|
Shri Virender Singh
|
Wrestling (Deaf)
|
(iv) Dhyan Chand Award 2015
|
S.
No.
|
Name
of the awardee
|
Discipline
|
|
1
|
Ms.
Satti Geetha
|
Athletics
|
|
2
|
Shri
Sylvanus Dung Dung
|
Hockey
|
|
3
|
Shri
Rajendra Pralhad Shelke
|
Rowing
|
(v) Rashtriya Khel Protsahana Purushkar, 2016
|
S. No.
|
Category
|
Entity recommended for Rashtriya
Khel ProtsahanPuruskar, 2016
|
|
1.
|
Identification and Nurturing of
Budding and Young Talent
|
1.Hockey Citizen Group
2.Dadar Parsee Zorostrian cricket club
3.Usha School of Athletics
4. STAIRS
|
|
2.
|
Encouragement to sports through
corporate social responsibility
|
India Infrastructure Finance
Corporate Limited
|
|
3.
|
Employment to sportspersons and
other welfare measures
|
Reserve Bank of India
|
|
4.
|
Sports for Development
|
Subroto Mukherjee Sports
Education Society
|
(vi) Maulana Abul Kalam Azad (MAKA) Trophy 2015-16
Punjabi University, Patiala
The awardees
will receive their awards from the President of India at a specially organized
function at the Rashtrapati Bhawan on August 29, 2016.
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,
certificates and cash prize of Rs.5 lakh each. Recipients of Rashtriya Khel
Protsahan Puruskar will be given Trophies and certificates. Overall top
performing university in inter-university tournaments will be given MAKA Trophy,
award money of Rs. 10 lakh and certificate.
***
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