National Sports Awards: ace cricketer, shuttlers among many honoured

New Delhi: Sports persons, including senior star cricketer Mohammed Shami and ace shuttlers Chirag Shetty and Satwiksairaj Rankireddy, received the prestigious National Sports Awards 2023 from President Droupadi Murmu on Tuesday, IANS reported.

The prestigious ceremony was held at the Rashtrapati Bhawan.

Mohammed Shami, who played a pivotal role in India's ODI World Cup campaign, claiming 24 wickets in seven games, received the Arjuna Award, while the shuttlers received the Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna.

A total of 26 athletes and para-athletes were conferred the Arjuna Awards for their outstanding performance in sports and games in 2023.

The awards ceremony, typically scheduled for August 29 to honour the birth anniversary of hockey legend Major Dhyan Chand, was postponed to this year due to the Asian Games held in Hangzhou last year.

Newly crowned chess Grandmaster R. Vaishali was honoured in recognition of her outstanding achievements in chess.

Squash player Harinder Pal Singh Sandhu became only the 11th squash player to be conferred the Arjuna Award. The 34-year-old Sandhu won two gold medals at the 2023 Asian Games in Hangzhou –- in the men's team event and the mixed doubles with Dipika Pallikal. The pair also won gold at the inaugural Asian Mixed Doubles Championships.

Young wrestler Antim Panghal was honoured for her achievements. She won the gold medal (53 kg Women's Wrestling) in the Junior World Championship held in Amman, Jordan, in 2023. She also bagged a bronze medal (53 kg Women Wrestling) in the Senior World Wrestling Championship, 19th Asian Games held in Hangzhou, China in 2023 and a silver medal in the Senior Asian Championship.

Other notable athletes who were chosen for the Arjuna Award include the first international para-archer without upper limbs Sheetal Devi, who won two gold medals (Women's Individual Compound Team and Mixed Team) and one silver medal (Women's Doubles Compound) in the Hangzhou Asian Games, Kabaddi player Pawan Sehrawat, who led the Indian team to a gold medal at the Asian Games, boxer Mohammad Hussamuddin, shooter Esha Singh.

'Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award' is given for the spectacular and most outstanding performance in the field of sports by a sportsperson over the previous four years.

'The Arjuna Award for Outstanding Performance in Sports and Games' is given for good performance over a period of the previous four years and for showing qualities of leadership, sportsmanship and a sense of discipline.

'The Dronacharya Award for Outstanding Coaches in Sports and Games' is given to coaches for doing outstanding and meritorious work on a consistent basis and for enabling sportspersons to excel in international events.