Meanwhile, Sakshi Malik said she is very happy and feels proud and blessed at on receiving this award.
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Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on National Sports Day, has congratulated all sports lovers across India and has expressed hope that sports and sportsmanship will always shine in our society.
Cricketer Ajinkya Rahane, who was also selected for the Arjuna Award, missed out on the ceremony as he is in the United States with the Indian team for a Twenty20 series against the West Indies.
The Dronacharya Award for Lifetime contribution will be given to S. Pradeep Kumar for Swimming and Mahabir Singh for Wrestling.
This was the first time in the history of the National Sports Awards that four athletes were chosen for the Khel Ratna award.
Bisheswar Nandi, Raj Kumar Sharma and Mahavir Singh Phogat received the Dronacharya awards. The award includes a medal, a citation, and a cash reward of Rs 7.5 lakh.
Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ranta 2016: PV Sindhu (badminton), Dipa Karmakar (gymnastics), Jitu Rai (shooting) and Sakshi Malik (wrestling). He also met the Khel Ratna awardees, Dhyan Chand awardees, Dronacharya awardees, and Tenzing Norgay awardees.
Veteran athlete Satti Geetha, hockey player Sylvanus Dung Dung and rower Rajendra Pralhad Shelke were conferred the Dhyanchand Award.
They were given certificates and a cheque of Rs.5 lakh each. It’s been a great day for me, to receive the award.
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The Rashtriya Khel Protsahan Puraskar was presented to Hockey Citizen Group, Dadar Parsee Zorostrian Cricket Club, Usha School of Athletics, Subroto Mukerjee Sports Education Society apart from Society for Transformation, Inclusion and Recognition through Sports (STAIRS).
