The Government of India has announced the list of sportspersons who would receive the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna, Dronacharya, Arjuna and Dhyan Chand awards. Amongst the recipients, there are 2 cricketers. The batting mainstay of India’s men’s Test team Cheteshwar Pujara and the vice-captain of Indian women’s team Harmanpreet Kaur will receive the Arjuna Award.
The committee for Dronacharya and Dhyan Chand awards was headed by Shri Pullela Gopichand and the committee for Khel Ratna and Arjuna award was led by retired justice C.K.Thakkar. Virender Sehwag was also a part of the committee that picked this year’s Khel Ratna and Arjuna awards.
Cheteshwar Pujara has been a premier contributor for Indian cricket in the longest format of the game and has been hugely responsible for India’s No.1 ranking in Test cricket.
On the other hand, Harmanpreet was a vital cog in Indian women’s wonderful run in the ICC Women’s World Cup where they made it to the final. She is only the 6th women cricketer to bag the prestigious honor after Mithali Raj, Jhulan Goswami, Diana Edulji, Anju Jain and Anjum Chopra.
List of all the awards declared:
Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna 2017
Shri Devendra – Para Athlete
Shri Sardar Singh – Hockey
Dronacharya Awards 2017
Late R. Gandhi – Athletics
Mr Heera Nand Kataria – Kabaddi
Mr G.S.S.V. Prasad – Badminton (Lifetime)
Mr Brij Bhushan Mohanty – Boxing (Lifetime)
Mr P.A. Raphel – Hockey (Lifetime)
Mr Sanjoy Chakravenhy – Shooting (Lifetime)
Mr Roshan Lal – Wrestling (Lifetime)
Arjuna Awards 2017
Ms V.J. Surekha – Archery
Ms Khushbir Kaur – Athletics
Mr Arokia Rajiv – Athletics
Ms Prasanthi Singh – Basketball
Sub. Laishram Debendro Singh – Boxing
Mr Cheteshwar Pujara – Cricket
Ms.Harmanpreet Kaur – Cricket
Ms Oinam Bembem Devi – FootballS.S.P.
S.S.P. Chawrasia – Golf
Mr S.V. Sunil – Hockey
Mr Jasvir Singh – Kabaddi
Mr P. N. Prakash – Shooting
Mr A. Amalraj – Table Tennis
Mr Saketh Myneni – Tennis
Mr Satyawart Kadian – Wrestling
Mr Mariyappan – Para AthleteDhyan Chand Awards 2017
Dhyan Chand Awards 2017
Mr Bhupender Singh – Athletics
Mr Syed Shahid Hakim – Football
Ms Sumarai Tete – Hockey
