Winners of Khel Ratna, Arjuna, Dronacharya, Dhyan Chand awards announced

New Delhi: The Sports Ministry, today, announced the winners Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna, Arjuna, Dronacharya and Dhyan Chand awards.

As many as 17 sports personalities were honoured with the 2017 Arjuna awards including cricketers Cheteshwar Pujara and Harmanpreet Kaur; golfer SSP Chawrasia, tennis player Saketh Myneni.

READ: 15 facts you must know about Indian women team's star vice-captain, Harmanpreet Kaur

Several para-athletes like Mariyappan and Varun Singh Bhati, VJ Surekha (Archery), track & field athletes Khushbir Kaur and Arokia Rajiv were also named in the list.

For Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna awards, the names of para athlete Devendra Jhajharia and Hockey player Sardar Singh were picked.

Jhajharia had won a gold medal in men’s javelin throw F46 category in the Rio Paralympics, becoming the most successful Indian para athlete ever. The 35-year-old, a left-hand amputee, is the only Indian para athlete to have won two gold medals in the Paralympics, the earlier one being the yellow metal he won in 2004 Athens.

READ: Few facts about India's most decorated paralympian, Devendra Jhajharia

Sardar, on the other hand, has been an ever-present pivot in Hockey India's recent resurgence. He made his debut for India in the junior team during India's tour to Poland in 2003 04.

In 2006, he graduated to the senior side making debut against Pakistan. Known for his high fitness levels not only in India but worldwide, Sardar was included in the 18-men FIH All Star team in 2010 and 2011.

Here's the complete list of awardees:

Govt. announces the list of awardees for RajivGandhiKhelRatna, ArjunaAwards, DronacharyaAwards and DhyanChand Award pic.twitter.com/UhPeTmKXc8 — Vikas Mishra (@vikas_rspl) August 22, 2017

All awardees:

(i) Dhyan Chand Awards
S. No.	Name of the Awardees	Discipline
1	Mr. Bhupender Singh	Athletics
2	Mr. Syed Shahid Hakim	Football
3	Ms. Sumarai Tete	Hockey
S. No.	Name (S/Shri)	Discipline
(ii)Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Awards
1	Mr. Bhupender Singh	Athletics
2	Mr. Syed Shahid Hakim	Football
3	Ms. Sumarai Tete	Hockey
1	Late Dr. R. Gandhi	Athletics
(iii)Dronacharya Awards
2	Mr. Heera Nand Kataria	Kabaddi
3	Mr. G.S.S.V. Prasad	Badminton (Lifetime)
4	Mr. Brij Bhushan Mohanty	Boxing (Lifetime)
5	Mr. P.A. Raphel	Hockey (Lifetime)
6	Mr. Sanjoy Chakraverthy	Shooting (Lifetime)
7	Mr. Roshan Lal	Wrestling (Lifetime)
(iv) Arjuna Awards 2017
1	Ms. V.J. Surekha	Archery
2	Ms. Khushbir Kaur	Athletics
3	Mr. Arokia Rajiv	Athletics
4	Ms. Prasanthi Singh	Basketball
5	Sub. LaishramDebendro Singh	Boxing
6	Mr. CheteshwarPujara	Cricket
7	Ms. Harmanpreet Kaur	Cricket
8	Ms. OinamBembem Devi	Football
9	Mr. S.S.P. Chawrasia	Golf
10	Mr. S.V. Sunil	Hockey
11	Mr. Jasvir Singh	Kabaddi
12	Mr. P. N. Prakash	Shooting
13	Mr. A. Amalraj	Table Tennis
14	Mr. SakethMyneni	Tennis
15	Mr. SatyawartKadian	Wrestling
16	Mr. Mariyappan	Para-Athlete
17	Mr. Varun Singh Bhati	Para-Athlete

Last year, PV Sindhu, Sakshi Malik, Dipa Karmakar and Jitu Rai were honoured with the Khel Ratna awards. It was the first time the Khel Ratna was awarded to four sportspersons.