Deepa Malik joins Bajrang Punia for Khel Ratna, Ravindra Jadeja among 19 other Arjuna awardees

Rio Paralympics silver medallist Deepa Malik was on Saturday minated for Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna, country's highest sporting hour, joining Asian and Commonwealth Games champion wrestler Bajrang Punia.

name of 48-year-old Deepa, who won a silver in shot put F53 category in 2016 Rio Paralympics, was ded for Khel Ratna by a 12-member selection committee on second day of two-day meeting.

Deepa Malik becomes latest dition to list

World . 1 wrestler in 65kg, Punia was minated for prestigious award on Friday, by panel heed by Justice (Retd) Mukundakam Sharma.

Six-time world champion and Olympic bronze medallist boxer MC Mary Kom recused herself from meeting to avoid conflict of interest as her personal coach Chhotelal Yav was in contention for Dronacharya Award. She attended selection panel meeting, which minated Bajrang for Khel Ratna, but skipped whole of second day's proceedings.

Deepa became first Indian woman to win a medal at Paralympics when she bagged a silver in shot put F53 category (for para-athletes who make seated throws and have full muscle power at ir shoulder, elbow and wrist in throwing arm) at 2016 Rio Paralympic Games.

She became paraplegic when a spinal tumour me walking impossible for her 17 years ago. She was previously houred with Arjuna Award in 2012 and Pma Shri in 2017.

Last year, she shifted to javelin and discus throw and created a new Asian record in Jakarta, becoming only Indian woman to win medals in three consecutive Asian Para Games (2010, 2014, 2018). She won a bronze each in discus throw (F51-52-53) and javelin throw (F53-54) in 2018 Asian Para Games.

19 sportspersons to get Arjuna Award

Khel Ratna is given for most spectacular and outstanding performance by a sportsperson over a period of four years immediately preceding year during which award is to be given. awardee is given a medal, a certificate, ceremonial dress and cash prize of Rs 7.50 lakh.

committee also picked 19 sportspersons for Arjuna Award, including likes of cricketers Ravindra Jeja and Poonam Yav, track and field stars Tejinder Pal Singh Toor, Mohammed Anas and Swapna Barman, footballer Gurpreet Singh Sandhu, hockey player Chinglensana Singh Kangujam and shooter Anjum Moudgil.

Jeja has been an integral part of India's Test and ODI teams in past few years. He is one of key members of Indian team that rose to world number one in Tests. Poonam has been a part of Indian team that reached final of World Cup final in 2017 and semifinal of Women's T20 World Cup last year.

Shot putter Toor and heptathlete Barman h won a gold each in 2018 Asian Games in Jakarta while Anas h claimed three silver in same Games. Chinglensana was a part of bronze-winning team in 2018 Asian Games while Moudgil has been one of most consistent shooters of country, having secured a Tokyo Olympics quota in women's 10m air rifle event.

As per guidelines, to be eligible for Arjuna award, a sportsperson should t only have h good performance consistently for previous four years at international level with excellence for year for which Award is recommended, but should also have shown qualities of leership, sportsmanship and a sense of discipline.

panel also minated three names for Dronacharya Award, including former bminton star Vimal Kumar, and three for Dronacharya Award (lifetime category), including 2011 World Cup-winning cricketer Gautam Gambhir's childhood coach Sanjay Bhardwaj.

Five persons were also minated for Dhyan Chand Award. Dronacharya Awards are given to hour eminent coaches who have successfully trained sportspersons or teams and enabled m to achieve outstanding results in international competitions. award carries a cash prize of Rs 5 lakh.

Dhyan Chand Award is given to hour those sportspersons who have contributed through ir performance and continue to promote sports even after ir retirement. award carries a cash prize of Rs 5 lakh.

Awards will be bestowed by President of India at Rashtrapati Bhawan on occasion of National Sports Day, which commemorates birth anniversary of hockey wizard Major Dhyan Chand.

List of Sportspersons minated for various awards.

Khel Ratna: Bajrang Punia (wrestling), Deepa Malik (para-athletics)

Arjuna Award: Tajinder Pal Singh Toor (athletics), Mohammed Anas Yahiya (athletics), S Bhaskaran (bodybuilding), Sonia Lar (boxing), Ravindra Jeja (cricket), Chinglensana Singh Kangujam (hockey), Ajay Thakur (kabdi), Gaurav Singh Gill (motorsports), Pramod Bhagat (para sports-bminton), Anjum Moudgil (shooting), Harmeet Rajul Desai (table tennis), Pooja Dhanda (wrestling), Foua Mirza (equestrian),  Gurpreet Singh Sandhu (football), Poonam Yav (cricket), Swapna Burman (athletics), Sundar Singh Gurjar (para sports-athletics), Bhamidipati Sai Praneeth (bminton), Simran Singh Shergill (polo).

Dronacharya Award (regular category): Vimal Kumar (bminton), Sandeep Gupta (table tennis), Mohinder Singh Dhillon (athletics)

Dronacharya Award (lifetime category): Mezban Patel (hockey), Rambir Singh Khokar (kabdi), Sanjay Bhardwaj (cricket).

Dhyan Chand Award: Manuel Fredricks (hockey), Arup Basak (table tennis), Maj Kumar (wrestling), Nitten Kirrtane (tennis), C Lalremsanga (archery). 

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