The sports ministry has announced the National Sports awards, the Rio Olympics medallists shuttler P.V. Sindhu and wrestler Sakshi Malik will receive the prestigious Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna award along with gymnast Dipa Karmakar and shooter Jitu Rai. National Sports Awards are given every year to recognize and reward excellence in sports. A large number of nominations were received for these awards this year, which were considered by the Selection Committees consisting of former Olympians, Arjuna Awardees, Dronacharya Awardees, Dhyan Chand Awardees. Based on the recommendations of the Committee and after due scrutiny, the Government has decided to confer awards upon the following sports persons/ coaches/organizations:
1. Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award:
Name of the awardee Discipline
1. Ms. P.V. Sindhu Badminton
2. Ms. Dipa Karmakar Gymnastics
3. Shri Jitu Rai Shooting
4 Ms. Sakshi Malik Wrestling
2. Dronacharya Awards 2016
Name of the awardee Discipline
1. Shri Nagapuri Ramesh Athletics
2. Shri Sagar Mal Dhayal Boxing
3. Shri Raj Kumar Sharma Cricket
4. Shri Bishweshwar Nandi Gymnastics
5. Shri S. Pradeep Kumar Swimming (Lifetime)
6. Shri Mahabir Singh Wrestling (Lifetime)
3. Arjuna Awards 2016
Name of the awardee Discipline
1. Shri Rajat Chauhan Archery
2. Ms. Lalita Babar Athletics
3. Shri Sourav Kothari Billiards & Snooker
4. Shri Shiva Thapa Boxing
5. Shri Ajinkya Rahane Cricket
6. Shri Subrata Paul Football
7. Ms. Rani Hockey
8. Shri Raghunath V.R. Hockey
9. Shri Gurpreet Singh Shooting
10. Ms. Apurvi Chandela Shooting
11. Shri Soumyajit Ghosh Table Tennis
12. Ms. Vinesh Wrestling
13. Shri Amit Kumar Wrestling
14. Shri Sandeep Singh Mann Para-Athletics
15. Shri Virender Singh Wrestling (Deaf)
4. Dhyan Chand Award 2015
Name of the awardee Discipline
1. Ms. Satti Geetha Athletics
2. Shri Sylvanus Dung Hockey
3. Shri Rajendra Pralhad Shelke Rowing
5. Maulana Abul Kalam Azad (MAKA) Trophy 201516 - Punjabi University, Patiala
