Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna to be conferred on 4 sportspersons
Q. Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna has been announced for which of the following athletes from India?- Published on 24 Aug 16a. OP Jaisha
b. PV Sindhu
c. Sakshi Malik
d. Only b and c
ANSWER: Only b and c
Following the close of the Olympic Games in Rio, the Indian government on 22nd August conferred the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna on Olympic medallist PV Sindhu and Sakshi Malik. Ace gymnast Dipa Karmakar and shooter Jitu Rai were also conferred with the honour.
- This marks the first time the nation’s highest sporting award has been conferred
- Karmakar’s coach Bishweshwar Nandi has been selected for the Dronacharya award along with Nagapuri Ramesh (athletics), Sagar Mal Dhayal (Boxing), Raj Kumar Sharma (Cricket) S. Pradeep Skumar (swimming) and Mahabir Singh (wrestling).
- 15 sportspersons will be honoured with the Arjuna award and three with the Dhyan Chand Award.
- Besides the Punjabi University of Patiala will be awarded the Maulana Abdul Kalam Azad Trophy.
- The Selection committee for the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna and Arjuna Award was Justice SK Agarwal (retd. Delhi HC Judge).
- Selection committee for the Dronacharya Award and Dhyan Chand Award was headed by MC Mary Kom
List of awardees is as follows:- P.V. Sindhu (Badminton)
- Sakshi Malik(Wrestling)
- Dipa Karmakar (Gymnastics)
- Jitu Rai (Shooting)
Dronacharya Award 2016- Nagapuri Ramesh - Athletics
- Sagar Mal Dhayal - Boxing
- Raj Kumar Sharma - Cricket
- Bishweshwar Nandi - Gymnastics
- S. Pradeep Kumar - Swimming (lifetime)
- Mahabir Singh - Wrestling (lifetime)
Arjuna Award 2016- Rajat Chauhan (Archery)
- Lalita Babar (Athletics)
- Sourav Kothari (Billiards and Snooker)
- Shiva Thapa (Boxing)
- Ajinkya Rahane (Cricket)
- Rani (Hockey)
- Subrata Paul (Football)
- V R Raghunath (Hockey)
- Gurpreet Singh (Shooting)
- Apurvi Chandela (Shooting)
- Soumyajit Ghosh (Table Tennis)
- Vinesh Poghat (Wrestling)
- Amit Kumar (Wrestling)
- Sandeep Singh Mann (Para-Athletics)
- Virender Singh (Wrestling)
Dhyan Chand Award 2015- Satti Geetha (Athletics)
- Sylvanus Dung Dung (Hockey)
- Rajendra Pralhad Shelke (Rowing)
