National Sports Awards 2021: President Ram Nath Kovind honours India’s sporting finest at dazzling ceremony

President Ram Nath Kovind introduced the National Sports Awards 2021 at an occasion on the Rashtrapati Bhavan on Saturday. Olympic champion javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra, veteran girl cricketer Mithali Raj and history-making Paralympic stars obtained the Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna, which was among the many first awards handed out within the night.

In a glittering perform organised on the Durbar Hall of the Rashtrapati Bhawan, the President recognised the nation’s unparalleled Olympic and Paralympic performances. The occasion turned an in-person affair this time after going surfing the earlier yr because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Union Sports minister Anurag Thakur was current on the ceremony together with a number of different dignitaries, together with his predecessor Kiren Rijiju.The star attraction of the night was Chopra, who obtained his Khel Ratna award amid thunderous applause from the choose dignitaries current on the specifically organised perform.Chopra was the primary among the many Khel Ratna awardees to obtain the honour.Besides the 23-year-old star, different recipients of the Khel Ratna recognition, had been Olympic bronze-winning Indian males’s hockey group captain Manpreet Singh, veteran goalkeeper P R Sreejesh, Olympic silver-medallist wrestler Ravi Dahiya, Olympic bronze-winning boxer Lovlina Borgohain and Mithali.Sunil Chhetri turned the primary footballer to be bestowed the award, a well-deserved recognition for maintaining tempo with the likes of Lionel Messi in scoring worldwide objectives.Paralympic gold-winners Avani Lekhara (Shooting), Sumit Antil (Athletics), Pramod Bhagat (Badminton), Krishna Nagar (Badminton), Manish Narwal (Shooting) had been additionally given the Khel Ratna.LIVE: President Kovind presents National Sports Awards 2021 at Rashtrapati Bhavan https://t.co/Tseh3ckW11— President of India (@rashtrapatibhvn) November 13, 2021
Along with 12 Khel Ratnas, India this yr has 35 Arjuna awardees. The lengthy checklist this yr was a results of the historic medal hauls on the Olympics (7) and Paralympics (19).The occasion is historically held on August 29 yearly to commemorate the beginning anniversary of hockey legend Major Dhyan Chand.The Khel Ratna award carries a money prize purse of Rs 25 lakh, a medal and a scroll of honour.The Arjuna award carries a prize cash of Rs 15 lakh, a bronze statue and a scroll of honour.Also Read | T20 World Cup: Aaron Finch reckons toss wouldn’t be an enormous think about remaining vs New Zealand- It will be overcome