Arjunas write to Prez for Drona

New Delhi, Sept. 20: Arjuna award winning archers, including Abhishek Verma and Rajat Chauhan, on Thursday shot off a letter to President Ram Nath Kovind, requesting him to ensure that their coach Jiwanjot Singh Teja is not deprived of Dronacharya honour.

Teja was recommended for the Dronacharya Award by the selection committee, headed by justice Mukul Mudgal, but the Sports Ministry struck off his name citing a past incident of indiscipline against the coach.

“He is a big motivator and has taken Indian archery to new heights. he has been with us since 2013 as a pillar of strength. So, we urge you to kindly acknowledge his efforts and pursue the issue a the earliest as it can affect the entire archery fraternity,” the letter read.

The archers, including

Vennam Jyoti Sureka, also marked a copy to Sports

Minister Rajyavardhan Singh

Rathore.

Incheon Asian Games silver medallist Verma was awarded Arjuna in 2014. The 2016 Arjuna winner Chauhan was part of the Indian compound men’s team which won a silver in Jakarta. Surekha, who was conferred Arjuna last year, was a gold medallist at the 2015 Asian Archery Championship in Bangkok.

Meanwhile, the Sports

Ministry confirmed on Thursday that Indian cricket captain Virat Kohli and world champion weightlifter Mirabai Chanu will receive the prestigious Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna.

Star javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra was among 20 picked for the Arjuna Awards, and they will be honoured by President Ram Nath Kovind at the Rashtrapati Bhawan on September 25.

AWARDS LIST

■ Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna: Virat Kohli and Mirabai Chanu.

■ Arjuna: Neeraj Chopra, Jinson Johnson and Hima Das ( Athletics); N. Sikki Reddy ( Badminton); Satish Kumar ( Boxing); Smriti Mandhana ( Cricket); Shubhankar Sharma ( Golf); Manpreet Singh, Savita ( Hockey); Ravi Rathore ( Polo); Rahi Sarnobat, Ankur Mittal, Shreyasi Singh ( Shooting); Manika Batra, G. Sathiyan ( Table Tennis); Rohan Bopanna ( Tennis); Sumit ( Wrestling); Pooja Kadian ( Wushu); Ankur Dhama ( ParaAthletics); Manoj Sarkar ( ParaBadminton).

■ Dronacharya: C. A. Kuttappa ( Boxing); Vijay Sharma ( Weightlifting); A Srinivasa Rao ( Table Tennis); Sukhdev Singh Pannu ( Athletics); Clarence Lobo ( Hockey, Lifetime); Tarak Sinha ( Cricket, Lifetime); Jiwan Kumar Sharma ( Judo, Lifetime); V. R. Beedu ( Athletics, Lifetime).

■ Dhyan Chand: Satyadev Prasad ( Archery); Bharat Kumar Chetry ( Hockey); Bobby Aloysius ( Athletics); Chougale Dadu Dattatray ( Wrestling).