In a new effort, this year’s national sports awards for athletes and coaches will include a 12-member panel that comprises a new array of people.
The panel for the current year includes the likes of six-time world champion boxer M C Mary Kom and former football captain Bhaichung Bhutia.
The national sports awards will be given away on August 29, which marks the birth anniversary of Indian hockey legend, Major Dhyan Chand.
“This year we are trying out a new idea of one selection committee for all the awards. We feel too many committees are unnecessary as they only make things difficult and create controversies,” a Sports Ministry source told PTI.
The panel consists of Sports Secretary Radhey Shyam Jhulaniya, Sports Authority of India Director General Sandeep Pradhan, Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS) CEO Commander Rajesh Rajagopalan, Mary Kom, Bhutia, ex-women’s cricket team captain Anjum Chopra, former long-jumper Anju Bobby George and table tennis coach Kamlesh Mehta among others.
It is being headed by Supreme Court judge Justice (Retd) Mukundakam Sharma.
In addition to these celebrated sportspeople, the panel also sees the inclusion of two esteem media personalities – Chief Editor of Times Group (Digital) Rajesh Kalra and sports commentator Charu Sharma.
The panel will be the forefront in deciding the winners of this year’s Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna, Arjuna Award, Dronacharya Award (for coaches), Dhyan Chand Award (lifetime achievement) and Rashtriya Khel Protsahan Award.
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