Water Adventure award to Shri Relu Ram Thakur for outstanding achievement in the field of water sports.1

President gives away Arjuna Awards and Dronacharya Awards

In a glittering ceremony at Rashtrapati Bhawan today, President, Shri APJ Abul Kalam gave away sports and adventure awards for 2003.

Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award was conferred to Smt. Anju Bobby George for outstanding performance and achievements in Athletics. She was presented a citation and Rs. 5 lakhs. Shri Robert Bobby George, Athletics Coach, Shri Anoop Kumar, National Coach for Indian women boxing team, Shri Rajinder Singh, former National Coach of Hockey and Shri Sukhchain Singh Cheema, Wrestling Coach were awarded Dronacharya Award in recognition their exceptionally meritorious achievements in the field of coaching. This award carries an amount of Rs. 3 lakhs, a momento and a citation.

Following sportspersons were conferred Arjuna Award in recognition of their outstanding achievements in the field of Sports for the year 2003.

Km. Soma Biswas (Athletics)

Smt. Madhuri Saxena (Athletics)

Shri Pankaj Advani (Billiards & Snooker)

Km. M.C. Mary Kom (Boxing)

Km. Koneru Humpy (Chess)

Capt. Rajesh Pattu (Equestrian)

Shri Devesh Chauhan (Hockey)

Km Suraj Lata Devi (Hockey)

Shri Akram Shah (Judo)

Shri Sanjeev Kumar (Kabbadi)

Maj. R.V.S. Rathore (Shooting)

Shri Harbhajan Singh (Cricket)

Km. Mithali Raj (Cricket)

Shri Shokinder Tomar (Wrestling)

Shri Madasu Srinivas Rao (Paralympic Games)

The award carries an amount of Rs.3.00 lakhs and a citation.

The President also gave away Dhyan Chand Awards to honour those sportspersons who have contributed to sports by their performance and continue to contribute to promotion of sports even after retirement from their active sporting career. These awardees included

Brig. Labh Singh (Athletics)

Shri Hardayal Singh (Hockey)

Shri Mehendale Digambor Parasuram (Physically Handicapped)

Maulana Abul Kalam Azad Trophy for 2002-2003 was awarded to Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar for the best and all round performance in sports activities during the year of the award. The university received a Trophy and cash award of Rs.2.00 lakhs for acquiring sports equipments.

The President also conferred Tenzing Norgay National Adventure Awards to recognize the contribution and performance in the field of adventure sports and lifetime achievement award in the field of adventure sports.

Life Time Achievement Award in adventure sports award was given to Smt. Bula Chowdhury Chakraborty in the field of swimming. While Land Adventure Award was given to Shri Brian Dermot Kharpran Daly for cave Explorations and Water Adventure award to Shri Relu Ram Thakur for outstanding achievement in the field of water sports.