President Ram Nath Kovind virtually confers National Sports and Adventure Award 2020

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President Ram Nath Kovind today virtually conferred the National Sports and Adventure Award 2020 on the occasion of National Sports Day. Mr Kovind presented Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award, Arjuna Award, Dronacharya Award, Dhyan Chand Award, Tenzing Norgay National Adventure Award and Rashtriya Khel Protsahan Puraskar.

Speaking on the occasion, Mr Kovind said that excellence and achievements in sports are not only the responsibility of the government. He said, the culture of sports can be promoted only by the participation of people of every class and region. The President expressed happiness that sports and fitness are now becoming a part of the thinking and routine of the youth. He said, parents-guardians and teachers are also changing their attitude towards sports. Mr Kovind expressed confidence that with everyone’s collective efforts, India will emerge as a sporting superpower. He said, India has the goal to be in the Top Ten Podium Finisher Countries in the 2028 Olympic Games. The President said, we will definitely achieve this goal.

Mr Kovind said, due to Covid-19, the sports world has been impacted. He said, in India also all sports activities have been affected. The President expressed happiness that players and coaches have been connected through online coaching and webinars. He said, Sports Ministry and other institutes have also maintained contact with the coaches and players. The President expressed hope that people connected with the sporting world will come out of it with more mental strength and they will create new history with their achievements. He said, sports and sportspersons strengthen the spirit of solidarity among our countrymen.

Mr Kovind said, it is noteworthy that among the five sportspersons who have received the Khel-Ratna award, are three daughters – Manika Batra, Vinesh and Rani and a para-athlete.

Paying tributes to Major Dhyanchand, the President said, he is a role model for sportsperson as well as all other countrymen. Mr Kovind said, Major Dhyanchand got extraordinary achievements in the field of hockey with his dedication and skill amidst the simple surroundings and facilities.

Sports Minister Kiren Rijiju and several other dignitaries attended the ceremony from Vigyan Bhavan in New Delhi.

The awardees attended the ceremony from various places across the country, Bengaluru, Pune, Sonepat, Chandigarh, Kolkata, Lucknow, Delhi, Mumbai, Bhopal, Hyderabad and Itanagar. The Ceremony was broadcast live on AIR News and Doordarshan.

For the first time, the National Sports and Adventure Award ceremony is being conducted virtually.

The prize money in four of the seven categories of the National Sports and Adventure Awards has been enhanced. Youth Affairs and Sports Minister Kiren Rijiju announced the enhancement on the occasion of the National Sports Day today. The prize money for the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award has been increased to 25 lakh rupees from the previous amount of 7.5 lakh rupees. Arjuna Award has been enhanced to 15 lakh rupees from 5 lakh. The Dhronacharya (Lifetime) awardees, who were earlier given 5 lakh rupees will now be given 15 lakh rupees as cash prize, while Dhronacharya (Regular) will be given 10 lakh instead of 5 lakh rupees per awardee. Dhyanchand Awardees will be given 10 lakh rupees instead of 5 lakh rupees.

Speaking about the decision, Mr. Rijiju said, the prize money for the Sports Awards was last reviewed in 2008. He said these amounts should be reviewed once every 10 years at least. He added that if professionals in every field have seen an enhancement in their earnings, sportspersons should also get enhanced earnings.

The Minister was talking to the media after paying floral tributes to hockey wizard Major Dhyanchand at his statue in Dhyan Chand Stadium in Delhi this morning. Mr Rijiju congratulated the winners of National Sports Awards for the accolades and honours they brought to India. He said that the performance of Indian athletes at international level has gone up as compared to the past. He stated that well performing athletes have to be recognised and rewarded and therefore, the number of awardees in National Sports Awards has also gone up this year.