The anticipation is high as the Sports Ministry unveils the final nomination list for the prestigious National Sports Awards 2023. This year’s spotlight shines on badminton maestros Satwik Sairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty, who are set to receive the coveted Khel Ratna, while 26 exceptional sports personalities, including the prolific pacer Mohammed Shami, are lined up for the Arjuna Award.
The much-anticipated awards ceremony is scheduled for January 9, 2024, at Rashtrapati Bhavan, where President Droupadi Murmu will personally confer the honours.
In a notable decision, the Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award will be bestowed upon the dynamic badminton duo, Chirag Shetty and Satwik Sairaj Rankireddy. Their remarkable achievements have rightfully earned them this prestigious accolade, adding another feather to their illustrious careers.
Following an outstanding display in the ODI World Cup 2023, where India showcased stellar performances, Mohammed Shami emerged as the standout bowler of the tournament. His contributions did not go unnoticed, leading to his well-deserved inclusion in the list of Arjuna Award recipients. Shami’s exceptional skills and dedication to the sport have earned him widespread acclaim.
The Sports Ministry has also approved five coaches for the Dronacharya Award in the regular category, recognizing their pivotal roles in shaping the success of athletes. Additionally, there will be a three-lifetime award category, honouring those whose contributions have stood the test of time.
In the esteemed lifetime category, the Dhyan Chand Award will be presented to three individuals, symbolizing a celebration of their enduring commitment to sports excellence. This award recognizes not just a moment of brilliance but a lifetime of dedication to the sporting world.
LIST OF FINAL National Sports Awards NOMINEES
Khel Ratna Award for 2023
Chirag Shetty and Satwik Sairaj Rankireddy (badminton).
Arjuna Awards for 2023
Ojas Pravin Deotale (archery)
Aditi Gopichand Swami (archery)
Murali Sreeshankar (athletics)
Parul Chaudhary (athletics)
Mohameed Hussamuddin (boxing)
R Vaishali (chess)
Mohammed Shami (cricket)
Anush Agarwalla (equestrian)
Divyakriti Singh (equestrian dressage)
Diksha Dagar (golf)
Krishan Bahadur Pathak (hockey)
Sushila Chanu (hockey)
Pawan Kumar (kabaddi)
Ritu Negi (kabaddi)
Nasreen (kho-kho)
Pinki (lawn bowls)
Aishwary Pratap Singh Tomar (shooting)
Esha Singh (shooting)
Harinder Pal Singh Sandhu (squash)
Ayhika Mukherjee (table tennis)
Sunil Kumar (wrestling)
Antim (wrestling)
Naorem Roshibina Devi (wushu)
Sheetal Devi (para archery)
Illuri Ajay Kumar Reddy (blind cricket)
Prachi Yadav (para canoeing)
Dronacharya Award (Regular Category) for outstanding coaches
Lalit Kumar (wrestling)
RB Ramesh (chess)
Mahaveer Prasad Saini (para athletics)
Shivendra Singh (hockey)
Ganesh Prabhakar Devrukhkar (mallakhamb)
Dronacharya Award (Lifetime Category) for outstanding coaches
Jaskirat Singh Grewal (golf)
Bhaskaran E (kabaddi)
Jayanta Kumar Pushilal (table tennis)
Dhyan Chand Award for Lifetime Achievement
Manjusha Kanwar (badminton)
Vineet Kumar Sharma (hockey)
Kavitha Selvaraj (kabaddi)
Maulana Abul Kalam Azad (MAKA) Trophy 2023
Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar (overall winner university)
Lovely Professional University, Punjab (1st runner-up)
Kurukshetra University, Kurukshetra (2nd runner-up)
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