Manavjit Singh Sandhu, who set the shooting ranges ablaze with his spectacular feats, was on Wednesday ceremonially conferred with the prestigious Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna.
NEW DELHI: Manavjit Singh Sandhu, who set the shooting ranges ablaze with his spectacular feats, was on Wednesday ceremonially conferred with the prestigious Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna, the country's highest sporting honour, for the year 2006.
The majestic Ashok Hall at the Rashtrapati Bhawan burst into a thunderous applause as the 30-year-old Sandhu received the award from President Pratibha Patil at a glittering function.
Sandhu piped Indian cricket captain Rahul Dravid and star golfer Jeev Milkha Singh for the award, becoming the fourth shooter to bag the honour after Abhinav Bindra, Anjali Bhagwat and Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore.
While the lanky Sandhu stole the spotlight, 14 other sports persons including archer Jayant Talukdar, shuttler Chetan Anand and woman cricketer Anjum Chopra were presented with the Arjuna Awards in the presence of a host of dignitaries.
For the third year running, no Indian male cricketer was in the list of awardees with spinner Harbhajan Singh being the last Arjuna awardee in 2003.
The Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award comprises a cash award of Rs 5 lakh, a scroll of honour and a medal while the Arjuna Award carries a cash award of Rs 3 lakh and a statute and a scroll of honour.
The Dhyan Chand and Dronacharya Awards, which were also given away at the function, carry cash award of Rs 3 lakh.
Sandhu won the gold medal in trap event at the 49th World Championships in Zagreb, Croatia, in July 2006, a feat which made him India's second world champion in shooting.
He also won the bronze medal in the 2006 Commonwealth Games in Melbourne.
"It feels amazing to be at the Rashtrapati Bhawan to receive the award. My next goal is to win an Olympic medal at the Beijing Games in 2008 and I am fully focusing on that now," Sandhu said.
"It was a nice short interaction with the President. She appreciated my work saying 'well done'," he said.
Rohit Bhakar, a physically challenged badminton player also drew roaring acknowledgment as he collected his Arjuna while Gitika Jakhar was also given a loud applause for becoming the first-ever woman wrestler to bag the coveted prize.
Athlete K M Binu, boxer Vijender and chess player P Harikrishna, hockey player Jyoti Sunita Kullu, Kabaddi player Navneet Gautum, shooter Vijay Kumar, squash player Sourav Ghoshal, weightlifter Geeta Rani were among the other Arjuna award winners.
For a change, there was no controversy regarding the selection of awardees this year, which had former Indian captain Kapil Dev as the chairman of selection committee.
Former shuttler Prakash Padukone headed another committee to select the Dronacharya awards, which went to R D Singh (athletics), Damodaran Chandralal (boxing) and Koneru Ashok (chess).
Kapil Dev, who also attended the function, said the Cricket Board had nominated just one player -- Yuvraj Singh --for the awards but he did not get the nod from the committee.
"The Board sent only one name, that of Yuvraj, and the committee said since he did not even have a secured place in the team he could not be selected for the awards," Kapil said.
On Dravid losing on the Khel Ratna for another year, he advised "keep trying".
Asked if he ever wished to be called a Khel Ratna, Kapil said he was satisfied with whatever came his way.
"I am satisfied with whatever I have achieved. I have got a lot in my life so far," he said.
Wrestler Gitika said it was a great feeling to receive the award from the President of country.
"My male colleagues were also nominated for the award but my achievements were considered more deserving of the awards, it is a matter of great honour for him," she said.
Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna: Manavjit Singh Sandhu
Arjuna Awards: P Harikrishna (chess), K M Binu (athletics), Vijender (boxing), Anjum Chopra (women's cricket), Jyoti Sunita Kullu (womens hockey), Chetan Anand (badminton), Jayanta Talukdar (archery), Navneet Gautam (kabaddi), Vijay Kumar (shooting), Saurav Ghosal (squash), Subhajit Saha (table tennis), Geeta Rani (womens weightlifting), Geetika Jhakar (women's wrestling) and Rohit Bhakaar (sport for physically challenged).
Dhyan Chand Awards: Varinder Singh (hockey), Shamsher Singh (kabaddi), Rajendra Singh (wrestling).
Dronacharya Awards: R D Singh (athletics, Paralympic Games), Damodaran Chandralal (women's boxing), Koneru Ashok (Chess).
Tenzing Norgay National Adventure Awards: Subedar Palden Giachho (land adventure), Wing Commander MIK Reddy (air adventure), Tapas Chowdhury (water adventure), Gurdial Singh (lifetime achievement).
Maulana Abul Kalam Azad Trophy: Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar.
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