President Ram Nath Kovind on Tuesday gave away the prestigious Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna award to former India hockey team captain Sardar Singh and Paralympian javelin thrower Devendra Jhajharia at a function at Rashtrapati Bhawan here on the occasion of National Sports Day. The President also gave away the Dronacharya awards to Late R. Gandhi (athletics), Heera Nand Kataria (kabaddi), G.S.S.V. Prasad (badminton, lifetime), Brij Bhushan Mohanty (boxing, lifetime), P.A. Raphel (hockey, lifetime), Sanjoy Chakraverthy (shooting, lifetime) and Roshan Lal (wrestling, lifetime). The Arjuna awardees for this year are star athlete Rajiv Arokia, Saketh Myneni (tennis), Jyoti Surekha Vennam (archery), Khushbir Kaur (athletics), Prashanti Singh (basketball), S.V. Sunil (hockey), S.S.P. Chaurasia (golf), Satyavrat Kadian (wrestling), Anthony Amalraj (table tennis), P.N. Prakash (shooting), Jasvir Singh (kabaddi), Laishram Devendro Singh (boxing), Oinam Bembem Devi (football), Harmanpreet Kaur and Cheteshwar Pujara (both cricket) along with Paralympians Mariyappan Thangavelu and Varun Singh Bhati. Reliance Foundation chairperson and founder Neeta Ambani was awarded the Rashtriya Khel Protsahan award for her organistion's contribution in promotion of sports.
President Ram Nath Kovind presents the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award 2017 to Sardar Singh for Hockey in a glittering ceremony at Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi on Aug 29, 2017.
President Ram Nath Kovind presents the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award 2017 to Devender Singh for Para-Athletics in a glittering ceremony at Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi on Aug 29, 2017.
President Ram Nath Kovind presents the Dronacharya Award 2017 to Late R. Gandhi (Posthumously) for Athletics in a glittering ceremony at Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi on Aug 29, 2017.
President Ram Nath Kovind presents the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award 2017 to G.S.S.V. Prasad for Badminton (Lifetime) in a glittering ceremony at Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi on Aug 29, 2017.
President Ram Nath Kovind presents the Arjuna Award, 2017 to Harmanpreet Kaur for Cricket in a glittering ceremony at Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi on Aug 29, 2017.
President Ram Nath Kovind presents the Arjuna Award, 2017 to A. Amalraj for Table Tennis in a glittering ceremony at Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi on Aug 29, 2017.
President Ram Nath Kovind presents the Arjuna Award, 2017 to S.V. Sunil for Hockey in a glittering ceremony at Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi on Aug 29, 2017.
President Ram Nath Kovind presents the Arjuna Award, 2017 to Mariyappan T. for Para-Athletics in a glittering ceremony at Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi on Aug 29, 2017.
President Ram Nath Kovind presents the Arjuna Award, 2017 to Oinam Bembem Devi for Football in a glittering ceremony at Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi on Aug 29, 2017.
President Ram Nath Kovind presents the Arjuna Award, 2017 to Satyawart Kadian for Wrestling in a glittering ceremony at Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi on Aug 29, 2017.
President Ram Nath Kovind presents the Rashtriya Khel Protsahan Award 2017 to Reliance Foundation chairperson and founder Neeta Ambani in a glittering ceremony at Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi on Aug 29, 2017.
President Ram Nath Kovind with the sports and adventure awardees, in a glittering ceremony, at Rashtrapati Bhavan, in New Delhi on Aug 29, 2017. Also seen MoS Youth Affairs and Sports (I/C) Vijay Goel and Sports Secretary Injeti Srinivas.