Integrity Score 147
No Records Found
No Records Found
No Records Found
President Ramnath Kovind gave out the Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Awards at the Rashtrapati Bhawan today. The majority of athletes were Olympians and Paralympians who took part in the Tokyo Games and won medals there earlier this year.
Sunil Chettri became the first footballer ever to be given this honourable award, for leading the Indian Football Team and has become one of the highest goal-scorers in the international circuit in the process.
Other athletes to be bestowed with the country’s highest sporting honour include-
Neeraj Chopra who was pinned down to win the award the moment he won Gold for India in the Olympics, becoming the first Indian to win a medal in Athletics post-Independence. Hockey Captain Manpreet Singh and veteran PR Sreejesh also won the award after the Indian Hockey team’s inspiring bronze medal at the Tokyo Olympics. Wrestler Ravi Kumar Dahiya was one of only 2 athletes to medal for India at the Tokyo Olympic Games, winning a silver medal after losing in a closely fought bout with ROC’s Uguev.
Assamese boxer Lovlina Borgohain looks all set to become the flagbearer of Indian women’s boxing with Mary Kom nearing retirement age, Borgohain was the only Indian boxer to medal at the Tokyo Olympics and was rightly conferred with the Khel Ratna for the same. Indian women’s cricket team captain Mithali Raj was also bestowed with the award becoming the only cricketer to be conferred with the Khel Ratna this year.
Pramod Bhagat and Krishna Nagar won the Khel Ratna for their achievements in para-badminton, both of them winning gold in their respective events at the Tokyo games. Para-shooter Avani Lekhara became one of the youngest ever athletes to win this prestigious award, winning it at the age of just 20 years. Manish Narwal also won the award winning it for his achievements and performances in the field of para-pistol shooting. Last but not the least Para-athlete Sunit Antil won the award for his achievements in the field of F-46 Javelin, he also happens to be the world record holder in the same event.