New Delhi:
Athens Olympics silver medallist shooter Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore will chair the 15-member committee, which will select this year’s Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna awardee and Arjuna award winners. Former hockey captain Aslam Sher Khan will head the 15-member committee which will select the Dronacharya award winners while sports secretary will be the chairperson of the committee which will select the Dhyanchand award winner.
Sources told TOI that London Olympics silver medal winner Vijay Kumar (shooting) and bronze medallist Yogeshwar Dutt (wrestling) will be considered for Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna, the country’s highest sporting award. All the other London Games medallists — Sushil Kumar, Gagan Narang, Saina Nehwal and MC Mary Kom — have already received the award.
Apart from several current and former sportspersons, the committees also have representatives from the Sports Authority of India (SAI) and the sports ministry. Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award consists of a cash amount of Rs 7.50 lakh, a scroll of honour and one medal. Arjuna award consist of a statuette, a scroll of honour, and a cash award of Rs five lakh. Dhyanchand Award consists of a plaque, a scroll of honour, ceremonial dress and a cash award of Rs five lakh.
To recognise the contribution made to sports development by entities other than sportspersons and coaches, the Government had instituted ‘Rashtriya Khel Protsahan Puruskar’. The Award carries a trophy and citation.
Khel Ratna/Arjuna committee:
Chairman: Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore (shooting). Members: Rajesh Kumar (wrestling), Ashwini Nachappa (athletics), Aparna Popat (badminton), Akhil Kumar (boxing), Khazan Singh (swimming), Baichung Bhutia (football), G Mulini Reddy (volleyball) KS Garcha (polo), Ravi Shastri (cricket), JS Saran, (Army Marksman Unit), Manoj Yadav (secretary, PSCB) Gopal Krishna (DG, SAI) Onkar Kedia (joint secy, sports), C Chinnappa (director, sports).
source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / Home> Sports> More Sports / TNN & Agencies / August 15th, 2012
