Tokyo Olympics gold-medallist Neeraj Chopra reciving Primary Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna award from President Ram Nath Kovind.
Olympic champion javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra, veteran girl cricketer Mithali Raj and history-making Paralympic stars shared the highlight as an unparalleled 12 sportspersons had been introduced with India’s absolute best carrying honour — the Primary Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna — through President Ram Nath Kovind right here on Saturday.
In a glittering serve as organised on the Durbar Corridor of the Rashtrapati Bhawan right here, the President recognised the rustic’s remarkable Olympic and Paralympic performances.
The development become an in-person affair this time after logging on the former yr because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The megastar enchantment of the night was once Chopra, who gained his Khel Ratna award amid thunderous applause from the make a selection dignitaries provide at the specifically organised serve as. Chopra was once the primary a few of the Khel Ratna awardees to obtain the respect.
But even so the 23-year-old megastar, different recipients of the Khel Ratna reputation, 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 become the primary footballer to be bestowed the award, a richly deserved reputation for preserving tempo with the likes of Lionel Messi in scoring global objectives.
Paralympic gold-winners Avani Lekhara (Taking pictures), Sumit Antil (Athletics), Pramod Bhagat (Badminton), Krishna Nagar (Badminton), Manish Narwal (Taking pictures) had been additionally given the Khel Ratna.
At the side of 12 Khel Ratnas, India this yr has 35 Arjuna awardees. The lengthy checklist this yr was once a results of the historical medal hauls on the Olympics (7) and Paralympics (19).
The development is historically hung on August 29 once a year to commemorate the beginning anniversary of hockey legend Primary Dhyan Chand.
The Khel Ratna award carries a money prize handbag of Rs 25 lakh, a medal a scroll of honour. The Arjuna award carries a prize cash of Rs 15 lakh, a bronze statue and a scroll of honour.
Provide at Saturday’s rite was once sports activities minister Anurag Thakur at the side of a number of different dignitaries, together with his predecessor Kiren Rijiju.
