Sania receives Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award

Arjuna awards was also handed out to many sportspersons, including cricketer Rohit Sharma.

August 30, 2015 12:35 am | Updated November 16, 2021 04:33 pm IST - NEW DELHI:

NEW DELHI 29/08/2015:   President Pranab Mukherjee presenting  Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna award to  Sania Mirza during presentation of Sports and Adventure award-2015 at Rashtrapati Bhawan,in New Delhi on Saturday August 29,2015 . Photo: Sandeep Saxena

NEW DELHI 29/08/2015: President Pranab Mukherjee presenting Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna award to Sania Mirza during presentation of Sports and Adventure award-2015 at Rashtrapati Bhawan,in New Delhi on Saturday August 29,2015 . Photo: Sandeep Saxena

In the backdrop of two legal cases, 16 sportspersons and five coaches were among those who were honoured at the National Sports and Adventure Awards ceremony in the Durbar Hall of the Rashtrapati Bhawan here on Saturday.

Tennis ace Sania Mirza was conferred the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award even as the Karnataka High Court sought clarifications from the Union Sports Ministry following a petition from Paralympian H.N. Girisha challenging the Ministry’s decision.

Sania, a multiple Grand Slam champion, is the second tennis player to get the honour and the first to receive the award from President Pranab Mukherjee.  

Predictably, Sania, who flew in ahead of the US Open, was the most sought-after sportsperson of the evening. 

The event lost some sheen as five out of 17 selected for the Arjuna Award could not be present due to international assignments and other compulsions.

Boxer Mandeep Jangra is taking part in the Asian boxing championship in Bangkok, cricketer Rohit Sharma is playing a Test against Sri Lanka in Colombo, athlete M.R. Poovamma is participating in the World athletics championship in Beijing and wrestler Babita Kumari is in the US for the World championship.

Rower Sawarn Singh was the also among the absentees.

World Championship medal-winning wrestler Bajrang said the Arjuna Award meant a lot to him. “This is a huge morale booster for me as it comes before the World Championships and in an Olympic year. You can guess how important this is for me because I have changed my schedule for the World Championship to ensure I receive it personally.”

Top shuttler and China Open winner K. Srikanth wanted to soak in the atmosphere. “Being at the Rashtrapati Bhawan is an amazing experience. It is something you can only feel and experience… My most important target now is to do well in upcoming events because if I do well in all tournaments I will be up there (in rankings) and get selected for the Olympics.”

Commonwealth Games gold-winning weightlifter S. Sathish Kumar was excited. “I am thankful to God and the members of the selection committee. It shows their faith in me and motivates me to do even better.”

Ace shooter Jitu Rai was also delighted. “This is a big honour for me. There is a difference between winning medals and bagging such prestigious awards. It will motivate me.” 

Boxing coach Swatantara Raj Singh said, “When I applied for the award previously, every time I wrote ‘Training the boxers is my lifetime achievement.’ Finally I got it.”

Dhyan Chand awardee S.P. Misra said, “This was unexpected. I am really happy.” 

The ceremony was a memorable event for the city of Hyderabad. Apart from Sania, shuttler K. Srikanth, roller-skater Anup Kumar Yama (Arjuna), former Davis Cup captain S.P. Misra (Dhyan Chand) and Sports Coaching Foundation (Rashtriya Khel Protsahan) of the city were honoured for their contributions. 

The awardees:

Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award: Sania Mirza.

Arjuna Award: P.R. Sreejesh (hockey), Dipa Karmakar (gymnastics), Jitu Rai (shooting), Sandeep Kumar (archery), Mandeep Jangra (boxing), Babita Kumari and Bajrang (wrestling), Rohit Sharma (cricket), K. Srikanth (badminton), Swarn Singh (rowing), S. Satish Kumar (weightlifting), Sanothoi Devi (wushu), Sharath Gayakwad (para-swimming), M.R. Poovamma (athletics), Manjeet Chillar, Abhilasha Mhatre (kabaddi), Anup Kumar Yama (rollerskating).

Dronacharya Award: Naval Singh (para-athletics), Anoop Singh (wrestling), Harbans Singh (athletics-lifetime), Swatantar Raj Singh (boxing-lifetime), Nihar Ameen (swimming-lifetime).

Dhyan Chand Award: Romeo James (hockey), Shiv Prakash Misra (tennis), T.P.P. Nair (volleyball).

Tenzing Norgay National Adventure Awards 2014: Arunima Sinha (land), Jot Singh (land), Paramvir Singh (water), Satyendra Verma (air), Satish Chander Sharma (lifetime).

Maulana Abul Kalam Azad Trophy: Punjabi University, Patiala.

Rashtriya Khel Protsahan Puraskar: Directorate-General of Military Training (identification and nurturing of budding/young talent), Coal India Limited (encouragement of sports through corporate social responsibility), Haryana Police (employment of sportspersons and sports welfare measures), Sports Coaching Foundation, Hyderabad (sports for development).

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