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Saluting Sport

Few people know that the Khel Ratna carries bigger prize money than the Arjuna. Prestige wise,it’s equally big for a sportsman,” clarifies Mukul Goyal...

Few people know that the Khel Ratna carries bigger prize money than the Arjuna. Prestige wise,it’s equally big for a sportsman,” clarifies Mukul Goyal,44,a Gurgaon-based product designer who had the onerous task of coming up with fresh designs for the Khel Ratna and the newly instituted Khel Protsahan Award. Goyal has designed many trophies and prizes for corporate events in a career of almost two decades. But coming up with something spectacular for the highest achievement in sport in the country was a completely different experience he says,recalling his conversation with Sports Minister MS Gill in June. “Mr. Gill said he wanted to give the Khel Ratna a modern look and he wants to recognise contributions by organisations. He needs something that salutes the spirit of sport,” says Goyal,an NID graduate who runs the Tattva design label in Delhi.

Goyal has come up with a two feet tall trophy,spiral shaped like an Olympic torch with gold plated strips merging together for the Protsahan Award that was won by Tata Steel and The Railways. Four individual strips break out to represent the flames,which symbolise the four elements of the award,nurturing budding talent; financial support for sports; establishment of sports academies and employment of sports persons. The gold plated sculpture rests on an inverted silver cup with the base of the award cast in bronze. “Flames represent hope and prosperity. The three metals represent the three medals for sporting achievement,” he explains.

While the Khel Ratna award,which is actually a silver and gold plated medal is not as fancy,Goyal attempted to give it a more contemporary look and neater look. “There were too many elements on the medal,” he says,showing a replica of the earlier bronze medal. The new design has an Ashoka bust made from M-seal in the centre,and gold plated ball bearings around the seams. “A medal is not meant to be worn throughout. It will most likely be kept stacked away or displayed in a box,” says Goyal,who also designed a wooden case with a glass front to display the medal. With the Commonwealth Games around the corner,Goyal is hopeful the changes don’t go unnoticed. He says,“It’s far fetched I know. But the Commonwealth Games are from next year so they might need me again.”

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