In a prestigious announcement by the Sports Ministry for the annual National Sports Awards 2023, India’s badminton sensations Chirag Shetty and Satwiksairaj Rankireddy are set to receive the Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award, the highest sporting honor in the country. The ministry has also confirmed the Arjuna Award for 26 sportspersons, including cricket star Mohammed Shami. The awards ceremony, scheduled for January 9, will witness President Droupadi Murmu honoring the accomplished athletes and coaches.
Khel Ratna Glory for Badminton Duo
Chirag and Satwik’s exceptional year, marked by India’s first-ever badminton gold at the Hangzhou Asian Games, has earned them the prestigious Khel Ratna Award. Their historic achievement, coupled with victories at various international tournaments, has positioned them as strong contenders for the 2024 Paris Olympics.
Among the Arjuna awardees, Mohammed Shami, India’s pace maestro, stands out for his stellar performance in the ODI World Cup. Finishing as the top wicket-taker with 24 wickets, Shami played a crucial role despite missing initial matches. His exceptional movement and pace strengthened India’s bowling unit and contributed significantly to the team’s journey to the tournament final.
Notable Arjuna Awardees
The Arjuna Awards list includes outstanding athletes who excelled at the Hangzhou Asian Games, such as Murali Sreeshankar, Parul Chaudhary, Aditi Swami, Ojas Pravin Deotale, Aishwary Pratap Singh Tomar, Esha Singh, Sunil Kumar, Antim Panghal, Ayhika Mukherjee, Harinder Pal Singh Sandhu, and Roshibina Devi. Golfers Diksha Dagar and R Vaishali, along with Praggnanandhaa’s sister, Grandmaster Prachi Yadav, are also notable recipients.
The Dronacharya Award will be conferred upon five coaches: RB Ramesh (chess), Lalit Kumar (wrestling), Mahaveer Prasad Saini (para athletics), Shivendra Singh (hockey), and Ganesh Prabhakar Devrukhkar (mallakhamb). In the lifetime category, golf coach Jaskirat Singh Grewal and Bhaskaran E (kabaddi) and Jayanta Kumar Pushilal (table tennis) will be honored for their enduring contributions.
