Achanta Sharath Kamal bestowed with Khel Ratna in glittering National Sports Awards ceremony

Table tennis legend Achanta Sharath Kamal was on Wednesday bestowed with the Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna, the nation’s highest sporting honour, by President Droupadi Murmu in a glittering National Sports Awards ceremony on the Rashtrapati Bhavan.

While Sharath is the lone Khel Ratna award recipient, 25 sportspersons, together with shuttlers Lakshya Sen, HS Prannoy, girl boxer Nikhat Zareen, and monitor and area athletes Eldhose Paul and Avinash Sable, have been conferred with the Arjuna Award.

An honour to be conferred the celebrated Maj. Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award by the hands of Hon. President of India Draupadi Murmu ji. Gratifying to see my achievements in Table Tennis recognised via this prestigious award! @rashtrapatibhvn pic.twitter.com/kOLTSVDzml

— Sharath Kamal OLY (@sharathkamal1) November 30, 2022

The creme de la creme of Indian sports activities was recognised for its achievements up to now few years at a specifically organised ceremony. The occasion is historically held yearly to commemorate the delivery anniversary of hockey legend Major Dhyan Chand on August 29. But final yr additionally, the occasion was held on one other date.

The star attraction of the ceremony was Sharath, who acquired his Khel Ratna award amid thunderous applause from the choose dignitaries current on the Durbar Hall.

The Khel Ratna is given for the spectacular and most excellent performances by a sportsperson over the earlier 4 years. It carries a money prize of Rs 25 lakh, a medal and a scroll of honour. The Arjuna award carries a money prize of Rs 15 lakh, a bronze statue and a scroll of honour.

The 40-year-old Sharath had returned from Birmingham Commonwealth Games because the most-decorated Indian athlete with 4 medals. He is the second desk tennis participant after Manika Batra to get the Khel Ratna.

Besides a yellow steel within the blended doubles, Sharath additionally pocketed his singles gold after 16 years, the primary having gained on the 2006 Melbourne CWG. The lanky paddler has claimed a whopping 13 medals from the CWG general. He additionally gained two bronze medals on the 2018 Asian Games and is now seeking elusive Olympic glory on the 2024 Paris Games.

While Sharath took away the highlight, the star points of interest amongst Arjuna awardees have been shuttler Sen, world champion boxer Zareen, boxer Amit Panghal and triple jumper Eldhose Paul, all gold medallists at Birmingham Games. The Khel Ratna was the primary award to be given by the President, adopted by the Dronacharya award within the lifetime class, gained by Rohit Sharma’s coach Dinesh Jawahar Lad, soccer coach Bimal Prafulla Ghosh and wrestling mentor Raj Singh.

The Dronacharya Award is the common class handed to Jiwanjot Singh Teja (archery), Mohammad Ali Qamar (boxing), Suma Siddharth Shirur (para taking pictures) and Sujeet Maan (wrestling). Discus thrower Seema Punia was the primary to obtain the Arjuna award from the President, adopted by Paul, Sable, Sen, Prannoy and Panghal, amongst others.

Dhyan Chand Award for Lifetime Achievement was gained by Ashwini Akkunji C (athletics), Dharamvir Singh (hockey), BC Suresh (kabaddi) and Nir Bahadur Gurung (para athletics). Sreeja, who partnered with Sharath to win the blended doubles gold in Birmingham, described the second as unforgettable.

“It is an honour for me to be bestowed with the Arjuna award. Recognition of this kind is very motivating for a young athlete like me, and I want to thank my parents, Somnath Sir, and all my coaches and trainers,” she mentioned.

The ceremony was additionally attended by sports activities minister Anurag Thakur together with a bunch of different dignitaries, together with his deputy Nisith Pramanik. Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award 2022: Achanta Sharath Kamal.

Arjuna Awards for excellent efficiency in Sports and Games 2022: Seema Punia (Athletics), Eldhose Paul (Athletics), Avinash Mukund Sable (Athletics), Lakshya Sen (Badminton), HS Prannoy (Badminton), Amit (Boxing), Nikhat Zareen (Boxing), Bhakti Pradip Kulkarni (Chess), R Praggnanandhaa (Chess), Deep Grace Ekka (Hockey).

Sushila Devi (Judo), Sakshi Kumari (Kabaddi), Nayan Moni Saikia (Lawn Bowl), Sagar Kailas Ovhalkar (Mallakhamb), Elavenil Valarivan (Shooting), Omprakash Mitharval (Shooting), Sreeja Akula (Table Tennis), Vikas Thakur (Weightlifting), Anshu (Wrestling), Sarita (Wrestling), Parveen (Wushu), Manasi Girishchandra Joshi (Para Badminton), Tarun Dhillon (Para Badminton), Swapnil Sanjay Patil (Para Swimming), Berlin Anika J (Deaf Badminton).

Dronacharya Award for excellent coaches in Sports and Games 2022 Regular Category: Jiwanjot Singh Teja (Archery), Mohammad Ali Qamar (Boxing), Suma Siddharth Shirur (Para Shooting), Sujeet Maan (Wrestling).

Lifetime Category: Dinesh Jawahar Lad (Cricket), Bimal Prafulla Ghosh (Football), Raj Singh (Wrestling).
Dhyan Chand Award for Lifetime Achievement in Sports and Games 2022: Ashwini Akkunji C (Athletics), Dharamvir Singh (Hockey), BC Suresh (Kabaddi), Nir Bahadur Gurung (Para Athletics).

Rashtriya Khel Protsahan Puruskar 2022: TransStadia Enterprises Private Limited, Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology, Ladakh Ski & Snowboard Association.

Maulana Abul Kalam Azad (MAKA) Trophy 2022: Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar.
Tenzing Norgay National Adventure Awards: Naina Dhakad (Land Adventure), Shubham Dhananjay Vanmali (Water Adventure), Group Captain Kunwar Bhawani Singh Samyal (Life Time Achievement).