By TCN News,
New Delhi: Cricketer Zaheer Khan has been selected for the Arjuna Award 2011, the second highest sports award from the Government of India. He will get the award along with 18 other sportspersons from different games. Footballer Shabbir Ali will get the Dhyan Chand Award 2011. Two others will also get that award.
The Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award, the highest sports award, will go to shooter Gagan Narang.
The central government on Thursday announced Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award, Arjuna Awards, DhyanChand Awards and Dronacharya Awards for the year 2011.
According to the announcement, footballer Shabbir Ali will get Dhyan Chand Award for life time contribution to the game of football in the country.
A large number of nominations were received for these awards this year, which were considered by three select panels of eminent sportspersons and sports administrators; one headed by Dinesh Khanna, (for Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award, Arjuna Award), one headed by Satpal (for Dronacharya Award) and one headed by Secretary (Sports) (for Dhyan Chand Award). Based on the recommendations of the Committee and after due scrutiny, the Government has approved to confer awards upon the selected sportspersons / coaches / organizations.
National Sports Awards are given every year to recognize and reward excellence in sports. Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award is given for spectacular performance in the year under consideration; Arjuna Award is given for consistently outstanding performance for three consecutive years preceding the year of award; Dronacharya Award for producing medal winners at prestigious international sports events in the past three years and Dhyan Chand Award for life time contribution to sports development.
Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award is given to only one sportsperson in a year. Arjuna Award is given to not more than 15, Dhyan Chand Award to not more than 3 and Dronacharya Award to not more than 5 persons.
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, citations and cash prize of Rs.5 lakh each.
The awardees will receive their awards from the President of India at a specially organized function at the Rashtrapati Bhawan on August 29, 2011