The Government has
announced the Rajiv Gandhi Khel
Ratna Award and Arjuna Awards for the year 2012,
here today.
A large number of nominations were
received for these awards this year, which were considered by Selection
Committee consisting of eminent sportspersons and sports administrators; headed
by Col Rajya Vardhan Singh Rathore. Based on the recommendations of the Committee and
after due scrutiny, the Government has approved to confer awards upon the
following sportspersons.
A. Rajiv
Gandhi Khel Ratna Award -
2012:
|
1.
|
Shri Vijay Kumar
|
Shooting
|
|
2.
|
Shri Yogeshwar Dutt
|
Wrestling
|
B. Arjuna Awards 2012:
|
Sl. No.
|
Name
|
Discipline
|
|
1.
|
Ms. Deepika Kumari
|
Archery
|
|
2.
|
Ms. Laishram Bombayla Devi
|
Archery
|
|
3.
|
Ms. Sudha Singh
|
Athletics
|
|
4
|
Ms. Kavita Ramdas Raut
|
Athletics
|
|
5
|
Ms. Ashwani Ponnappa
|
Badminton
|
|
6
|
Mr. Parupalli Kashyap
|
Badminton
|
|
7
|
Mr. Aditya S. Mehta
|
Billiards
& Snooker
|
|
8
|
Mr. Vikas Krishan
|
Boxing
|
|
9
|
Mr. Yuvraj Singh
|
Cricket
|
|
10
|
Mr. Sardar Singh
|
Hockey
|
|
11
|
Mr. Yashpal Solanki
|
Judo
|
|
12
|
Mr. Anup Kumar
|
Kabaddi
|
|
13
|
Mr. Samir Suhag
|
Polo
|
|
14
|
Ms. Annu Raj Singh
|
Shooting
|
|
15
|
Mr. Omkar Singh
|
Shooting
|
|
16
|
Mr. Joydeep Karmakar
|
Shooting
|
|
17
|
Ms. Deepika Pallikal
|
Squash
|
|
18
|
Mr. Sandeep Sejwal
|
Swimming
|
|
19
|
Ms. Ng. Sonia Chanu
|
Weightlifting
|
|
20
|
Mr. Narsingh Yadav
|
Wrestling
|
|
21
|
Mr. Rajinder Kumar
|
Wrestling
|
|
22
|
Ms. Geeta Phogat
|
Wrestling
|
|
23
|
Mr. M. Bimoljit Singh
|
Wushu
|
|
24
|
Mrs. Deepa Malik
|
Athletics –
Paralympics
|
|
25
|
Mr. Ramkaran Singh
|
Athletics –
Paralympics
|
Normally
only one award of Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna is given every year to an individual
sportsperson. However, the Scheme provides that this condition can be relaxed
in exceptional circumstances viz., winning of an Olympic medal. Like wise for the Arjuna Awards,
normally not more than 15 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 Selection
Committee noted that 2012 is the Olympic year and India has won 6 medals in the
London Olympics, which is country’s best performance in Olympic Games, and
recommended that the condition of one award in case of Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna and 15 awards in case
of Arjuna Awards may be relaxed and the number of
Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna
Award may be increased from 1 (one) to 2 (two) and Arjun
Awards may be increased from 15 (fifteen) to 25 (twenty five).
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.
Apart from a medal and a citation, Rajiv Gandhi Khel
Ratna Awardees will receive a cash prize of Rs.7.5 lakh each and Arjuna Awardees
will receive statuettes, citations and cash prize of Rs.5 lakh
each.
The awardees will receive their awards from His Excellency the
President of India at a specially organized function at the Rashtrapati
Bhawan on August 29, 2012.
RM/