Players from region get lion’s share in national sports awards

CHANDIGARH:INDIAN women hockey skipper Rani Rampal, who hails from Haryana’s hockey hub Shahbad, and Asian Games gold medallist wrestler Vinesh Phogat of the famed Phogat clan from Charkhi Dadri were among the five outstanding sportspersons recommended for the country’s highest sporting honour Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratan award on Tuesday.

The other nominees are star cricketer Rohit Sharma, Rio Paralympic gold-winning high jumper Mariyappan Thangavelu and paddler Manika Batra.

As many as 29 names were also recommended for the Arjuna award by the 12-member selection committee of the sports ministry. Of these, 10 hail from the region.

What’s more, five out of the 13 coaches recommended for the Dronacharya awards, are from the region. These include former national women boxing coach Shiv Singh, who hails from Chandigarh, hockey coach from Himachal Romesh Pathania , Krishan Kumar Hooda, (kabaddi), OP Dahiya (wrestling), both from Haryana, and J&K wushu coach Kuldeep Handoo.

“It’s great news for me. The sporting honours motivate us to achieve more and more and I am really happy to be the first women hockey player to get the Khel Ratna award,” says Rani. Vinesh is the second women wrestler to get the sporting honour.

In the Dhyanchand awards category, seven out of the 14 names recommended hail from Punjab and Haryana. They are: Hockey Olympic bronze medallist Ajit Singh, Asian Games , discus thrower Kuldeep Singh Bhullar, Olympian boxer Lakha Singh, football coach Sukhwinder Singh Sandhu, kabaddi player Manpreet Singh, rowing Olympian Manjit Singh and wrestler Netar Pal Hooda.