President Pranab Mukherjee will present the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna and Arjuna Awards at a specially organized function at the Rashtrapati Bhavan here on August 29.
Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna and Arjuna Awards are given every year to recognize and reward excellence in sports.
Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award is given for the spectacular and most outstanding performance in the field of sports by a sportsperson over a period of four years immediately preceding the year during which award is to be given.
Arjuna Award is given for consistently outstanding performance for four years preceding the year of award.
A large number of nominations were received for these awards this year, which were considered by the Selection Committee headed by Justice V.K. Bali, former Chief Justice of the Kerala High Court, and consisting of eminent sportspersons and sports administrators.
Based on the recommendations of the Selection Committee and after due scrutiny, the government has approved to confer Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna and Arjuna Awards for 2015.
Tennis ace Sania Mirza will be conferred with the prestigious Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna.
The sportspersons, who will be honoured with the Arjuna Awards, are: Naib Subedar Sandeep Kumar (archery), M.R. Poovamma (athletics), Kidambi Srikanth Nammalwar (badminton), Mandeep Jangra (boxing), Rohit Sharma (cricket), Dipa Karmakar (gymnastic), Sreejesh P.R. (hockey), Manjeet Chhillar (kabaddi), Abhilasha Shashikant Mhatre (kabaddi), Sawarn Singh (rowing), Anup Kumar Yama (roller skating), Jitu Rai (shooting), S. Sathish Kumar (weightlifting), Bajrang (wrestling), Babita Kumari (wrestling), Yumnam Sanathoi Devi (wushu) and Sharath M. Gayakwad (para-swimming).
Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Awardee will receive medal, certificate and award money of Rs. 7.5 lakh and the Arjuna Awardees will receive statuettes, certificates and award money of Rs. five lakh each.
