In a comprehensive celebration of sporting excellence, the Sports Ministry unveiled the recipients of the National Sports Awards 2023. Renowned Indian fast bowler, Mohammed Shami, earned the prestigious Arjuna Award, marking his outstanding performance in the 2023 Cricket World Cup, where he emerged as the tournament’s leading wicket-taker with an impressive tally of 24 wickets.
Controversially, discussions arise around the distribution of sports honors, with debates focusing on the visibility and recognition accorded to athletes from less mainstream sports. Critics argue for a more comprehensive acknowledgment of achievements across various disciplines, urging a shift from the dominance of traditionally popular sports in the award ceremonies.
The highest sports honor, the Khel Ratna, found its deserving recipients in the badminton duo Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty. Their remarkable achievements include clinching the men’s doubles gold at the Asian Games and securing titles at prestigious tournaments like the Swiss Open, Indonesia Open, Korea Open, and China Masters in 2023.
The list of Arjuna awardees features a diverse array of athletes excelling in their respective fields, including archers, boxers, chess players, cricketers, and more. Notable mentions include Ojas Praveen Devtale and Aditi Gopichand Swamy in archery, R. Vaishali in chess, and Krishna Bahadur Pathak in hockey.
The announcement also brings recognition to para-athletes, with Sheetal Devi’s name gracing the list, emphasizing the importance of inclusivity and acknowledging achievements in para sports.
The Dronacharya Awards for coaching excellence will be conferred upon Lalit Kumar (Wrestling), R. B. Ramesh (Chess), Mahavir Prasad Saini (Para Athletics), Shivendra Singh (Hockey), and Ganesh Prabhakar Devrukhkar (Mallakhamba).
