Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award and Arjuna Awards Announced

The Government has announced the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award and Arjuna Awards for the year 2012, here today.             A large number of nominations were received for these awards this year, which were considered by Selection Committee consisting of eminent sportspersons and sports administrators; headed by Col Rajya Vardhan SinghRathore. Based on the recommendations of the Committee and after due scrutiny, the Government has approved to confer awards upon the following sportspersons.              A.        Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award - 2012: 1. Shri Vijay Kumar Shooting 2. Shri Yogeshwar Dutt Wrestling B.        Arjuna Awards 2012: Sl. No. Name Discipline 1. Ms. Deepika Kumari Archery 2. Ms. Laishram Bombayla Devi Archery       3. Ms. Sudha Singh Athletics 4 Ms. Kavita Ramdas Raut Athletics 5 Ms. Ashwani Ponnappa Badminton 6 Mr. Parupalli Kashyap Badminton 7 Mr. Aditya S. Mehta Billiards & Snooker 8 Mr. Vikas Krishan Boxing 9 Mr. Yuvraj Singh Cricket 10 Mr. Sardar Singh Hockey 11 Mr. Yashpal Solanki Judo 12 Mr. Anup Kumar Kabaddi 13 Mr. Samir Suhag Polo 14 Ms. Annu Raj Singh Shooting 15 Mr. Omkar Singh Shooting 16 Mr. Joydeep Karmakar Shooting 17 Ms. Deepika Pallikal Squash 18 Mr. Sandeep Sejwal Swimming 19 Ms. Ng. Sonia Chanu Weightlifting 20 Mr. Narsingh Yadav Wrestling 21 Mr. Rajinder Kumar Wrestling 22 Ms. Geeta Phogat Wrestling 23 Mr. M. Bimoljit Singh Wushu 24 Mrs. Deepa Mallick Athletics – Paralympics 25 Mr. Ramkaran Singh Athletics – Paralympics Normally  only one award of Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna  is given every year to an individual sportsperson. However, the Scheme provides that this condition can be relaxed in exceptional circumstances viz., winning of an Olympic medal. Like wisefor the Arjuna Awards, normally not more than 15 awards are to be given in any calendar year.  However, the Scheme of Arjuna Awards also provides that keeping in view the performance of Indian sportspersons in the Commonwealth, Asian Games and Olympic Games during a particular year, Arjuna Awards exceeding 15 in number may be allowed with proper justification and approval of the Minister for Youth Affairs & Sports.  The Selection Committee noted that 2012 is the Olympic year and India has won 6 medals in the London Olympics, which is country’s best performance in Olympic Games, and recommended that the condition of one award in case of Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna and 15 awards in case of Arjuna Awards may be relaxed and the number of Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award may be increased from 1 (one) to 2 (two) and Arjun Awards may be increased from 15 (fifteen) to 25 (twenty five).  National Sports Awards are given every year to recognize and reward excellence in sports.  Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award is given for spectacular performance in the year under consideration; Arjuna Award is given for consistently outstanding performance for three consecutive years preceding the year of award.                Apart from a medal and a citation, Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Awardees will receive a cash prize of Rs.7.5 lakh each and Arjuna Awardees will receive statuettes, citations and cash prize of Rs.5 lakh each.              The awardees will receive their awards from His Excellency the President of India at a specially organized function at the Rashtrapati Bhawan on August 29, 2012.