New Delhi: In a first virtual National Sports Awards ceremony forced due to the coronavirus pandemic India’s sporting best were bestowed with the honours on the birth anniversary of hockey legend Major Dhyan Chand, annually celebrated as India’s sports day.
The award winners were connected virtually to President Ram Nath Kovind at the Rashtrapati Bhavan from nine different Sports Authority of India-designated locations. The event began with Sports Minister Kiren Rijiju’s address, followed by the award ceremony to honour country’s bright athletes and coaches and various organisation working to promote sports in the country.
Here’s the full list of the National Sports Award winners:
Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award: Rohit Sharma (Cricket), Mariyappan Thangavelu (Para Athletics), Manika Batra (Table Tennis), Vinesh Phogat (Wrestling), Rani Rampal (Hockey).
Many Congratulations to @ImRo45 @manikabatra_TT @imranirampal @Phogat_Vinesh #Mariyayappan T on being bestowed the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award 2020. @KirenRijiju wishes you the very best for your sporting journey forward. pic.twitter.com/qMxlo8G2IT
— Kiren Rijiju Office (@RijijuOffice) August 29, 2020
Arjuna Award: Atanu Das (Archery), Dutee Chand (Athletics), Satwik Sairaj Rankireddy (Badminton), Chirag Chandrasekhar Shetty (Badminton), Vishesh Bhriguvanshi (Basketball), Manish Kaushik (Boxing), Lovlina Borgohain (Boxing), Ishant Sharma (Cricket), Deepti Sharma (Cricket), Sawant Ajay Anant (Equestrian), Sandesh Jhingan (Football), Aditi Ashok (Golf), Akashdeep Singh (Hockey), Deepika (Hockey), Deepak (Kabaddi), Kale Sarika Sudhakar (Kho Kho), Dattu Baban Bhokanal (Rowing), Manu Bhaker (Shooting), Saurabh Chaudhary (Shooting), Madhurika Patkar (Table Tennis), Divij Sharan (Tennis), Shiva Keshavan (Winter Sports), Divya Kakran (Wrestling), Rahul Aware (Wrestling), Suyash Narayan Jadhav (Para Swimming), Sandeep (Para Athletics), Manish Narwal (Para Shooting).
Your consistency in bringing laurels to the country and will always be celebrated. @KirenRijiju congratulates the recipients of the Arjuna Award 2020, @iboxermanish @LovlinaBorgohai @ImIshant #deeptisharma @realmanubhaker @SChaudhary2002 @madhurikapatkar #DattuBabanBhokanal pic.twitter.com/4xcoNLOtt7
— Kiren Rijiju Office (@RijijuOffice) August 29, 2020
Dronacharya Award
Life- Time Category: Dharmendra Tiwary (Archery), Purushotham Rai (Athletics), Shiv Singh (Boxing), Romesh Pathania (Hockey), Krishan Kumar Hooda (Kabaddi), Vijay Bhalchandra Munishwar (Para Powerlifting), Naresh Kumar (Tennis), Om Parkash Dahiya (Wrestling).
Regular Category: Jude Felix (Hockey), Yogesh Malviya (Mallakhamb), Jaspal Rana (Shooting), Kuldeep Kumar Handoo (Wushu), Gaurav Khanna (Para Badminton).
They have produced some of the brightest sporting stars of India. @KirenRijiju congratulates@jaspalrana2806 @kuldeep_handoo @GauravParaCoach # JudeFelixSebastian #YogeshMalviya on being conferred Dronacharya (Regular) awards. pic.twitter.com/ElEH5zvz0Y
— Kiren Rijiju Office (@RijijuOffice) August 29, 2020
Dhyan Chand Award: Kuldip Singh Bhullar (Athletics), Jincy Philips (Athletics), Pradeep Shrikrishna Gandhe (Badminton), Trupti Murgunde (Badminton), N Usha(Boxing), Lakha Singh (Boxing), Sukhvinder Singh Sandhu (Football), Ajit Singh (Hockey), Manpreet Singh (Kabaddi), J Ranjith Kumar (Para Athletics), Satyaprakash Tiwari (Para Badminton), Manjeet Singh (Rowing), Late Shri Sachin Nag (Swimming), Nandan Bal (Tennis), Netarpal Hooda (Wrestling).
Tenzing Norgay National Adventure Awards: Anita Devi (Land Adventure), Col Sarfraz Singh (Land Adventure), Taka Tamut (Land Adventure), Narender Singh (Land Adventure), Keval Hiren Kakka (Land Adventure), Satendra Singh (Water Adventure), Gajanand Yadava (Air Adventure), Late Magan Bissa (Life Time Achievement).
Maulana Abul Kalam Azad (MAKA) Trophy: Panjab University, Chandigarh
