New Delhi, The Sports Ministry has officially confirmed the prestigious Arjuna Award for cricketer Mohammed Shami, recognizing his outstanding performance in the ODI World Cup. Meanwhile, badminton duo Chirag Shetty and Satwiksairaj Rankireddy are set to receive the Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award, the highest sporting honor in India.
The awards ceremony, scheduled for January 9 at the Rashtrapati Bhavan, will witness President Droupadi Murmu honoring the recipients. Notable additions to the list include coaches RB Ramesh, shaping the career of chess prodigy R Praggnanandhaa, and other awardees in various categories.
Chirag and Satwik’s Khel Ratna recognition caps off a remarkable year, marked by India’s first-ever badminton gold at the Hangzhou Asian Games and victories in prestigious tournaments, positioning them atop the world rankings.
In the Arjuna Awards category, Shami joins the ranks alongside blind cricketer Ajay Kumar Reddy. The fast bowler’s standout performance in the ODI World Cup, emerging as the top wicket-taker despite missing initial matches, earned him this accolade.
Other Arjuna awardees include athletes, archers, shooters, wrestlers, paddler Ayhika Mukherjee, squash pro Harinder Pal Singh Sandhu, and Roshibina Devi in wushu, all showcasing their prowess at the Hangzhou Asian Games.
The Dronacharya Award will be presented to coaches, including RB Ramesh, 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, Bhaskaran E (kabaddi), and Jayanta Kumar Pushilal (table tennis) will be honored.
The awards ceremony promises to be a celebration of excellence, recognizing the remarkable achievements of these athletes and coaches in the realm of sports.
