India to confer Khel Ratna on four athletes; PV Sindhu gets rousing welcome

World Monday 22/August/2016 19:04 PM
By: Times News Service
India to confer Khel Ratna on four athletes; PV Sindhu gets rousing welcome

New Delhi/Hyderabad: In an unprecedented move, the country's highest sporting award - Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna - will be conferred upon four athletes with Olympic medallists PV Sindhu and Sakshi Malik set to be honoured alongside trail-blazing gymnast Dipa Karmakar and ace shooter Jitu Rai.
Also on Monday, amidst scenes of jubilation and a sense of pride, Olympics silver medallist PV Sindhu was on Monday accorded a rousing welcome on her arrival to home town and felicitated by Telangana government for her stupendous performance at Rio Games.
The Indian Sports Ministry announced this on Monday.
While shuttler Sindhu created history by becoming the first female athlete from India to win a silver in the just-concluded Rio Olympics, Sakshi bagged a bronze in the 58kg female wrestling.
Dipa, India's first female gymnast to qualify for Olympics, went on to miss a bronze by 0.15 points but her clean finish in the high-risk Produnova vault won the hearts of the nation, while Jitu bagged over half a dozen medals in the past two years, including gold at Asiad and Commonwealth Games and a silver in World Championships, which booked his ticket to Rio.
Besides, the ministry also selected 15 athletes for this year's Arjuna Award.
The notable names in the list are boxer Shiva Thapa, long distance runner Lalita Babar, cricketer Ajinkya Rahane, hockey players VR Raghunath and Rani Rampal among others.
This year's Dronacharya Award has been conferred upon six coaches, the most notable among being Dipa's coach Bishweshwar Nandi and India Test team captain Virat Kohli's mentor Raj Kumar Sharma.
Besides Nandi, others who will honoured with the Dhronacharya Award are Nagapuri Ramesh (athletics), Sagar Mal Dhayal (boxing), Pradeep Kumar (swimming, lifetime) and Mahabir Singh (wrestling, lifetime).
The Dhyan Chand Lifetime Achievement Award will be given to Satti Geetha (athletics), Sylvanus Dung Dung (hockey) and Rajendra Pralhad Shelke (rowing).
Besides, the Punjabi University of Patiala will be awarded the Maulana Abul Kalam Azad (MAKA) Trophy 2015-16.
The awardees will receive their awards from the President of India at a specially organised function at the Rashtrapati Bhawan on August 29, 2016.
The 21-year-old, PV Sindhu, who landed with her coach Pullela Gopichand, was received at Rajiv Gandhi International Airport by her parents PV Ramana and P Vijaya, some Telangana and Andhra Pradesh Ministers, amidst cheers from crowds.
A beaming Sindhu, displaying her silver medal and waving to the crowds, was then taken in a open-top-motorcade along with Gopichand to Gachibowli Stadium, where the government felicitated her along with her coach in the presence of a capacity crowd.
Sports-lovers and fans, particularly school children, some with national flags in their hands waved to Sindhu at several road junctions along the route to the stadium where excitement was in the air.
Schoolchildren held banners hailing the badminton star, who caught the imagination of the country with her superb run at Rio.
They raised slogans such as 'PV Sindhu Pride of India', and many of them also showered flower petals on the motorcade.
A celebratory mood prevailed at the stadium, where an enthusiastic crowd, mostly school and college students, welcomed her amid beating of drums by traditional 'Dappu' dance artistes.
"I never expected such a huge turn-out; it made my day," said a smiling Sindhu, overwhelmed by the huge reception.
"Thanks for the support and blessings. I thank my Guru (P Gopichand)...my parents, who supported and motivated me. I would like to thank everyone," she said at the felicitation event, attended by her parents, Union Minister Bandaru Dattatreya, Telangana Deputy Chief Minister Mohd Mahmood Ali and IT Minister K T Rama Rao, among others.
Gopichand thanked the Telangana government for its support and for announcing rewards.
Praising the two Indian medal winners at Rio, he said, "Hats off to the women (Sindhu and grappler Sakshi Malik) for actually saving the respect of India in front of the whole world."
"It's huge support from the government and also for financial rewards. It is unprecedented. I am sure this will inspire and help in preparing lot of champions and lot more sportspersons," Gopichand said.
Rama Rao told Sindhu's parents that they should be proud of her as she has now become "daughter of India".
There is a need to prepare a comprehensive plan for future Olympics, the minister said.
The Telangana government had earlier announced Rs50 million (Rs5 crore) cash reward for the 21-year-old, a 1,000 square yard housing site near the Pullela Gopichand Badminton Academy in Gachibowli and suitable government job, if she is willing, and a cash prize of Rs10 million (Rs1 crore) for Gopichand.