The 36-year-old Bembem called time on her illustrious international career at the end of the 2016 South Asian Games in Shillong, and an Arjuna Award would be a fitting reward for her services to the beautiful game as the biggest name that India’s women’s football has had to date.
26-year-old Gurpreet Singh Sandhu is a goalkeeper, who is the only Indian to have played top-flight football in Europe currently in his third season with Norwegian Eliteserien side Stabaek IF and experts feel that Gurpreet has a good chance to be awarded this year.
The third footballer is current AIFF Player of the Year Jeje Lalpekhlua, who in recent seasons has been a key member of the Indian national team, Mohun Bagan in the I-League and Chennaiyin FC in the Indian Super League.
I would hope that all three of them get an Arjuna Award this year. Fingers crossed…