By TCN News,
New Delhi: The Central Government today announced the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award, Arjuna Awards, Dhyan Chand Awards, Dronacharya Awards and Rashtriya Khel Protsahan Puruskar for the year 2010.
Saina Nehwal, No 2 in world badminton ranking, has been chosen for Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award, the highest sports award in the country.
15 sportspersons from various disciplines including athletics, boxing, chess, cricket and football have been selected for Arjuna Awards. Some of them are Joseph Abraham (Athletics), Dinesh Kumar (Boxing), Ms. Julan Goswami (Women’s cricket) and Deepak Kumar Mandal (Footbal).
Winners of Dhayan Chand Awards and Rashtriya Khel Protsahan Puruskar have also been announced.
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; Dhyan Chand Award for lift time contribution to sports development; and Dronacharya Award for producing medal winners at prestigious international sports events in past three years.
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, Dhyan Chand and Dronacharya Awardees will receive statuettes, citations and cash prize of Rs.5 lakh each. The recipients of Rashtriya Khel Protsahan Puruskar will receive trophy and citation.
The awardees will receive their awards from Her Excellency the President of India at a specially organized function at the Rashtrapati Bhawan on August 29, 2010.
The nominations received for these awards were considered by two select panels of eminent sportspersons and sports administrators; one headed by Ms P.T. Usha (for Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award, Arjuna Awards, Dhyan Chand Awards and Rashtriya Khel Protsahan Puruskar) and other by Ashok Kumar (for Dronacharya Awards). Based on the recommendations of the Committees and after due scrutiny, the Government has approved to confer awards upon the selected sportspersons.