Mithali Raj receives the Khel Ratna from President Ram Nath Kovind. Image: @rashtrapatibhvn
Olympic champion javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra, India women’s cricket team captain Mithali Raj were among the 12 athletes who were awarded India’s highest sporting honour — the Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna — on Saturday.
In the function that was organised at the Rashtrapati Bhawan in the national capital, the athletes were awarded by President Ram Nath Kovind.
Neeraj was honoured for winning the gold medal in the javelin throw event at Tokyo Olympics. Besides him, the captain of the Indian men’s hockey team Manpreet Singh and goalkeeper PR Sreejesh received the Khel Ratna. The Indian men’s hockey team won the bronze medal at the Olympics.
Olympic silver-medallist wrestler Ravi Dahiya and Olympic bronze-medallist boxer Lovlina Borgohain were also part of Khel Ratna awardees.
Also part of the list were Paralympic medal winners — Avani Lekhara (gold in shooting 10m air rifle SH1 and bronze in shooting 50m rifle 3 positions SH1), Sumit Antil (gold in men’s F64 javelin throw), Pramod Bhagat (gold in badminton men’s singles SL3), Krishna Nagar (gold in badminton men’s Singles SH6), Manish Narwal (gold in shooting mixed 50 m pistol SH1).
Mithali became the first Indian women cricketer to be awarded the prestigious honour. India men’s football team captain Sunil Chhetri became the first footballer to be bestowed the award.
A total of 35 athletes were also bestowed with the Arjuna Award on the day.