Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award and Arjuna Awards Announced

The Government has announced the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award and Arjuna Awards for the year 2012.
A large number of nominations were received for these awards this year, which were considered by Selection Committee consisting of eminent sportspersons and sports administrators; headed by Col Rajya Vardhan Singh Rathore. Based on the recommendations of the Committee and after due scrutiny, the Government has approved to confer awards upon the following sportspersons.

Khel Ratna Award – 2012

1.    Shri Vijay Kumar    Shooting     
2.    Shri Yogeshwar Dutt    Wrestling    

B.    Arjuna Awards 2012:

Sl. No.    Name    Discipline     
1.    Ms. Deepika Kumari    Archery     
2.    Ms. Laishram Bombayla Devi    Archery     
3.    Ms. Sudha Singh    Athletics     
4    Ms. Kavita Ramdas Raut    Athletics     
5    Ms. Ashwani Ponnappa    Badminton     
6    Mr. Parupalli Kashyap    Badminton     
7    Mr. Aditya S. Mehta    Billiards & Snooker     
8    Mr. Vikas Krishan    Boxing     
9    Mr. Yuvraj Singh    Cricket     
10    Mr. Sardar Singh    Hockey     
11    Mr. Yashpal Solanki    Judo      
12    Mr. Anup Kumar    Kabaddi     
13    Mr. Samir Suhag    Polo     
14    Ms. Annu Raj Singh    Shooting     
15    Mr. Omkar Singh    Shooting     
16    Mr. Joydeep Karmakar    Shooting     
17    Ms. Deepika Pallikal    Squash     
18    Mr. Sandeep Sejwal    Swimming     
19    Ms. Ng. Sonia Chanu    Weightlifting     
20    Mr. Narsingh Yadav    Wrestling     
21    Mr. Rajinder Kumar    Wrestling     
22    Ms. Geeta Phogat    Wrestling     
23    Mr. M. Bimoljit Singh    Wushu     
24    Mrs. Deepa Mallick    Athletics – Paralympics      
25    Mr. Ramkaran Singh    Athletics – Paralympics     

Normally  only one award of Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna  is given every year to an individual sportsperson. However, the Scheme provides that this condition can be relaxed in exceptional circumstances viz., winning of an Olympic medal. Like wise for the Arjuna Awards, normally not more than 15 awards are to be given in any calendar year.  However, the Scheme of Arjuna Awards also provides that keeping in view the performance of Indian sportspersons in the Commonwealth, Asian Games and Olympic Games during a particular year, Arjuna Awards exceeding 15 in number may be allowed with proper justification and approval of the Minister for Youth Affairs & Sports.  The Selection Committee noted that 2012 is the Olympic year and India has won 6 medals in the London Olympics, which is country’s best performance in Olympic Games, and recommended that the condition of one award in case of Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna and 15 awards in case of Arjuna Awards may be relaxed and the number of Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award may be increased from 1 (one) to 2 (two) and Arjun Awards may be increased from 15 (fifteen) to 25 (twenty five).
 National Sports Awards are given every year to recognize and reward excellence in sports.  Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award is given for spectacular performance in the year under consideration; Arjuna Award is given for consistently outstanding performance for three consecutive years preceding the year of award.  Apart from a medal and a citation, Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Awardees will receive a cash prize of Rs.7.5 lakh each and Arjuna Awardees will receive statuettes, citations and cash prize of Rs.5 lakh each.