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Government of India announce winners of National Sports Awards 2018!

India’s National Sports Awards are given every year to recognize and reward excellence in sports. Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award is given for the spectacular and most outstanding performance in the field of sports by a sportsperson over a period of four year, Arjuna Award is given for consistency outstanding performance for four years, Dronacharya Award for coaches for producing medal winners at prestigious International sports events, Dhyan Chand Award for life time contribution to sports development and Rashtriya Khel Protsahan Puruskar is given to the corporate entities (both in private and public sector) and individuals who have played a visible role in the area of sports promotion and development. Overall top performing university in inter-university tournaments is given Maulana Abul Kalam Azad (MAKA) Trophy.

A large number of nominations were received for these awards this year, which were considered by the Selection Committees consisting of former Olympian, Arjuna Awardees, Dronacharya Awardees, Dhyan Chand Awardees, Sport Journalists/ Experts/ Commentators and sports administrators. Selection Committee for Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award and Arjuna Awards was headed by Justice Indermeet Kaur Kochhar (Former Judge of High Court of Delhi High Court). Selection Committee for Dronacharya Awards and Dhyan Chand Awards was headed by Justice Mukul Mudgal (Former Chief Justice, High Court of Punjab & Haryana High Court). Selection Committee for Rashtriya Khel Protsahan Puruskar was headed by Rahul Bhatnagar, Secretary (Sports). Selection Committee for MAKA Trophy was headed by former Olympian Ashok Kumar.

Based on the recommendations of the Committee and after due scrutiny, the Government has decided to confer awards upon the following sportspersons, coaches and entities:

(i) Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna 2018

S. No. Name of the Sportsperson Discipline
1. Ms. S. Mirabai Chanu Weightlifting
2. Shri Virat Kohli Cricket

(ii) Dronacharya Awards 2018

S. No. Name of the Coach Discipline
Subedar  Chenanda Achaiah  Kuttappa Boxing
Shri Vijay Sharma Weightlifting
Shri A. Srinivasa Rao Table Tennis
Shri Sukhdev  Singh  Pannu Athletics
Shri Clarence Lobo Hockey (Life Time)
Shri Tarak Sinha Cricket (Life Time)
Shri Jiwan Kumar Sharma Judo (Life Time)
Shri V.R. Beedu Athletics (Life Time)

(iii) Arjuna Awards 2018

S. No. Name of the Sportsperson Discipline
Shri Neeraj Chopra Athletics
Naib Subedar Jinson Johnson Athletics
Ms. Hima Das Athletics
Ms. Nelakurthi Sikki Reddy Badminton
Subedar Satish Kumar Boxing
Ms. Smriti Mandhana Cricket
Shri Shubhankar Sharma Golf
Shri Manpreet Singh Hockey
Ms. Savita Hockey
Col. Ravi Rathore Polo
Ms. Rahi Sarnobat Shooting
Shri Ankur Mittal Shooting
Ms. Shreyasi Singh Shooting
Ms. Manika Batra Table Tennis
Shri G. Sathiyan Table Tennis
Shri Rohan Bopanna Tennis
Shri Sumit Wrestling
Ms. Pooja Kadian Wushu
Shri Ankur Dhama Para-Athletics
Shri Manoj Sarkar Para-Badminton

(iv) Dhyan Chand Award 2018

S. No. Name of the Sportsperson Discipline
Shri Satyadev Prasad Archery
Shri Bharat Kumar Chetri Hockey
Ms. Bobby Aloysius Athletics
Shri Chougale Dadu Dattatray Wrestling

(vi) Rashtriya Khel Protsahan Puruskar 2018

S. No. Category Name of the entity
1. Identification and Nurturing of Budding & Young Talent Rashtriya Ispat Nigam Limited
2. Encouragement to Sports through Corporate Social Responsibility JSW Sports
3. Sports for Development Isha Outreach

(vii) Maulana Abul Kalam Azad (MAKA) Trophy 2017-18: 
Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar

The awardees will receive their awards from the President of India at a specially organized function at the Rashtrapati Bhawan on 25th September, 2018.

Apart from a medal and a citation, Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Awardee will receive a cash prize of Rs. 7.5 lakh. Arjuna, Dronacharya and Dhyan Chand Awardees will receive statuettes, certificates and cash prize of Rs. 5 lakh each. A trophy and citation is given to the entity in the Rashtriya Khel Protsahan Puruskar, 2018. Recipients of Rashtriya Khel Protsahan Puruskar will be given Trophies and certificates. Overall top performing university in inter-university tournaments will be given MAKA Trophy, award money of Rs. 10 lakh and certificate.

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