Deepa Malik to receive Khel Ratna; Ravindra Jadeja, Chinglensana Singh, Ajay Thakur among list of 19 nominated for Arjuna Award

Ace Indian para-athlete Deepa Malik will be conferred with the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna award for her outstanding achievements in various sports. The 48-year old is also a past recipient of the prestigious Arjuna Award and the Padma Shri Award in 2012 and 2017 respectively. 

Her biggest achievement came in Rio three years ago when she became the first Indian to win a medal at the Paralympics, securing a silver medal in the shot put. She also has four medals in the Asian Paralympic Games and has a total of 23 medals across sports such as javelin throw, discuss throw, swimming and the shot put.

Meanwhile, the 12 member committee also ended the final day of the two-day sit-down by releasing the list of the Arjuna Award and Dhyanchand Award nominees. Headed by Justice Mukundakam Sharma, the award is given to those who have not only excelled internationally in their respective sports over the past four years but have also shown exemplary sportsmanship and leadership qualities.

Tajinderpal Singh Toor, Swapna Barman and Mohammad Anas Yahiya were the three athletes nominated for the Arjuna award, along with body-builder S. Bhaskaran, boxer Sonia Lather, hockey player Chinglensana Singh Kangujam, kabaddi player Ajay Thakur, shooter Anjum Moudgil, racer Gaurav Singh GIll, para-badminton player Pramod Bhagat, table tennis player Harmeet Rajul Desai, equestrian Fouaad Mirza, shuttler B. Sai Praneeth and polo player Simran Singh Shergill.

Prominent cricketers Ravindra Jadeja and Poonam Yadav were also included in the list, while Pooja Dhanda was the sole wrestler nominated for the award. Football goalkeeper Gurpreet Singh Sandhu was also a nominee being the only footballer of the 19 names.

Former Indian shuttler Vimal Kumar was among those nominated for the Dronacharya Award.