CWG gold medallist Nayanmoni Saikia among 25 named for Arjuna Awards

NEW DELHI: Indian table tennis legend Achanta Sharath Kamal, who claimed three gold medals in the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham this year, was the only player nominated for the Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award as the government named 25 sportspersons including World champion woman boxer Nikhat Zareen, steeplechaser Avinash Sable, CWG gold medallist Nayanmoni Saikia and young chess wizard R. Praggnanandhaa for the prestigious Arjuna Award.

The Khel Ratna was the only award missing from the laurels achieved by Sharath, the most successful male table tennis player the country has ever produced who has played in three Olympic Games, five Commonwealth Games and four Asian Games besides bagging the national title a record 10 times.

Among those nominated for the Arjuna Award for this year are veteran discus thrower Seema Punia, top badminton players Lakshya Sen and HS Prannoy, who played a key role in the Indian team's maiden triumph in the Thomas Cup, boxer Amit Phangal, woman hockey player Deep Grace Ekka, shooters Elavenil Valarivan and Omprakash Mitharval and young table tennis star Sreeja Akula, who partnered Sharath Kamal to mixed doubles title at Birmingham Commonwealth Games.

Woman chess player Bhakti Kulkarni, judo star Shushila Devi, woman kabaddi player Sakshi Kumari, Mallakhamb star Sagar Kailas Ovhalkar, wushu player Parveen and deaf badminton player Jerlin Anika J. were the others who will get the Arjuna Award for 2022.

The list includes three para-badminton stars — World Champion Manasi Joshi, Tarun Dhillon and Swapnil Sanjay Patil. Top wrestlers Anshu and Sarita too were awarded the Arjuna as was Nayan Moni Saikia, who helped India bag their maiden gold medal in lawn balls at Birmingham. (IANS)

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