Lagatar24 Desk
New Delhi, Nov.13: President Ram Nath Kovind presented Neeraj Chopra with the Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award on Saturday. Chopra earned the javelin throw gold medal in the Tokyo 2020 Olympics earlier this year.
He is India’s only second individual gold medalist in the Olympics, and the country’s first in athletics.
Neeraj Chopra accepted the prize in the Rashtrapati Bhawan during the National Sports Awards ceremony.
On November 2, the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports announced the National Sports Awards. Every year, the awards are given to reward sporting excellence.
#WATCH दिल्ली: राष्ट्रपति रामनाथ कोविंद ने टोक्यो ओलंपिक में गोल्ड मेडल विजेता नीरज चोपड़ा को मेजर ध्यानचंद खेल रत्न पुरस्कार से सम्मानित किया। pic.twitter.com/WXKIh1PsGz
— ANI_HindiNews (@AHindinews) November 13, 2021
Apart from Chopra, the Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award was also given to Ravi Kumar, who won a silver medal in wrestling at the Tokyo Olympics. The prestigious prize was given to Lovlina Borgohain (Boxing), Sreejesh PR (Men’s Hockey), and Manpreet Singh (Men’s Hockey), who also brought laurels to the country during the Tokyo Olympics.
Avani Lekhara, who won a gold and a bronze medal in para-shooting at the Tokyo Paralympics, was also honored with the Khel Ratna alongside fellow para-athletes Pramod Bhagat (para-badminton), Krishna Nagar (para-badminton), Manish Narwal (para-shooting) and Sumit Antil (para-athletics).
Mithali Raj, the captain of the Indian women’s cricket team (ODIs and Tests), and Sunil Chhetri, the captain of the Indian men’s football team, were among those who received the Khel Ratna award at the occasion.
Here is a full list of athletes who received the prestigious award:
– Neeraj Chopra (Athletics)
– Ravi Kumar (Wrestling)
– Lovlina Borgohain (Boxing)
– Sreejesh P.R (Hockey)
– Avani Lekhara (Para Shooting
– Sumit Antil (Para-Athletics)
– Pramod Bhagat (Para Badminton)
– Krishna Nagar (Para Badminton)
– Manish Narwal (Para Shooting)
– Mithali Raj (Cricket)
– Sunil Chhetri (Football)
– Manpreet Singh (Hockey)
