Journalism of Courage
The ministry of youth affairs and sports announced the National Sports Awards on 2 November. National Sports Awards are given every year to recognize and reward excellence in sports. As many as 12 sportspersons, including Olympics gold medallist Neeraj Chopra and wrestler Ravi Kumar Dahiya, received National Sports Awards 2021 on Saturday.
The first footballer to be conferred with the Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award, Indian maestro Sunil Chhetri on Saturday credited his longevity at the top level as the reason for bagging the highest sporting honour of the country. The 37-year-old India captain, who began his professional career in 2002 with the famous Mohun Bagan club and made his international debut in 2005, received the Khel Ratna from President Ram Nath Kovind. “One of the primary reasons why I got the Khel Ratna Award is because I have been playing for 19 years. I want to thank each one of the masseurs, physios and doctors. You superstars have been the main reason why I could be on the pitch,” Chhetri said.
Ravi Dahiya became only the second Indian wrestler to win a silver medal at the Olympics Games when he lost 4-7 to reigning world champion Zavur Uguev in the men's freestyle 57 kg title clash. Before Dahiya, Sushil Kumar was the only other Indian wrestler to have made the gold medal match at the Olympics. Sushil had won a silver at the 2012 London Games.
Indian hockey veteran PR Sreejesh and captain Manpreet Singh were conferred the Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna award on Saturday.
Sreejesh and Manpreet had an exceptional outing at the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo, fetching India a Bronze medal and successfully ending India's 41-year drought to win an Olympic medal in field hockey.
Lovlina Borgohain won a bronze medal at the Tokyo Olympics after losing to Turkey's Busenaz Surmeneli in the women's welterweight 69 kg semi-final event. Despite her defeat, she became only the second Indian female boxer and third overall to win a medal at the Olympics after Vijender Singh in 2008 and Mary Kom in 2012.
Mithali Raj wrote her name in the history books on Saturday after she was conferred the Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award by President Ram Nath Kovind. She is the first Indian women cricketer to be awarded the prestigious honour.
Tokyo Paralympics gold medal winner from Odisha, Pramod Bhagat, received the Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award from President Ram Nath Kovind.
Paralympian and javelin thrower Sumit Antil receives Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award from President Ram Nath Kovind. He won a gold medal in men's javelin throw F64 category at the 2020 Summer Paralympics in Tokyo.
Manish Narwal won gold in the mixed 50m pistol SH1 event of the 2020 Paralympics, setting a record (218.2) in the final.
Avani Lekhara, who scripted history by winning India's first gold medal in shooting at the Tokyo Paralympics, was conferred the prestigious Khel Ratna award by President Ram Nath Kovind on Saturday. The 19-year-old shooter had clinched a gold and bronze medal in the mega-sporting event held earlier this year.
Para-badminton player Krishna Nagar was also conferred with the Khel Ratna but he was not present at the event after the sudden demise of his mother.
The full list of sportspersons to win the award are: Neeraj Chopra (Athletics), Ravi Kumar (Wrestling), Lovlina Borgohain (Boxing), Sreejesh P.R (Hockey), Avani Lekhara (Para Shooting), Sumit Antil (Para-Athletics), Pramod Bhagat (Para Badminton), Krishna Nagar (Para Badminton), Manish Narwal (Para Shooting), Mithali Raj (Cricket), Sunil Chhetri (Football), and Manpreet Singh (Hockey). The full list of athletes to receive the Arjuna Award are: Arpinder Singh, Simranjit Kaur, Shikhar Dhawan, Bhavani Devi, Monika, Vandana Katariya, Sandeep Narwal, Hiimani Uttam Parab, Abhishek Verma, Ankita Raina, Deepak Punia, Dilpreet Singh, Harman Preet Singh, Rupinder Pal Singh, Surender Kumar, AmitRohidas, Birendra Lakra, Sumit, Nilakanta Sharma, Hardik Singh, Vivek Sagar Prasad, Gurjant Singh, Mandeep Singh, Shamsher Singh, Lalit Kumar Upadhyay, Varun Kumar, Simranjeet Singh, Yogesh Kathuniya, Nishad Kumar, Praveen Kumar, SuhashYathiraj, Singhraj Adhana, Bhavina Patel, Harvinder Singh, and Sharad Kumar. The Khel Ratna award carries a cash prize purse of Rs 25 lakh, a medal a scroll of honour. The Arjuna award carries a prize money of Rs 15 lakh, a bronze statue and a scroll of honour.
