National Sports Awards announced

NEW DELHI: The Union Sports Ministry has officially announced the national sports awards including the Khel Ratna on Wednesday. Last week, the Ministry of Sports approved the list of recommendations submitted by the selection committee chaired by Retd. Justice Khanwilkar.

Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty won the Khel Ratna award in men's doubles badminton. 26 players including Malayali long jump star Murali Sreeshankar and cricketer Mohammad Shami received the Arjuna Award. Sreeshankar was the lone Malayali in this year’s Arjuna awardee list. Although Shami's name did not appear before the selection committee initially, he was included in the list for the award after considering the special request given by the BCCI after his performance in the World Cup.

Malayali Kabaddi coach E. Bhaskaran has been awarded the Dronacharya Award for his yeoman contributions to the world of sports. Vaishali, who is the sister of chess prodigy Praggnanandhaa was given the Arjuna Award. Vaishali recently won the Women's Grandmaster title. Praggnanandhaa’s coach RB Ramesh also received the Dronacharya Award.

Three people were also selected for the Dhyanchand Lifetime Achievement Award. The awards will be presented by President Draupadi Murmu at a function to be held at Rashtrapati Bhavan on January 9.