Bhubaneawar September 18: The Paralympic Committee of India (PCI) has recommended the names of ace para-shuttler and gold medalist Pramod Bhagat, shooter Manish Narwal, high jumper Sharad Kumar and javelin-thrower Sundar Singh Gurjar for Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award 2021.
All the four has brought laurels for India at the recently held in Tokyo Paralympics.
Deepa Malik, the President of the PCI, said winning the award will motivate athletes to perform well in the Paris Games in 2024.
“Our players did so well at Paralympics and we are proud of them. These awards will motivate them to put more effort in the next Games and they deserve that too as they have made the nation proud,” Deepa Malik added.
Deepa further informed that names of javelin-thrower Sumit Antil and shooter Avani Lekhara have been recommended for Arjuna Award.
“Sumit Antil and Avani Lekhara will go for Arjuna Award this time, both of them have made the nation proud with their gold medals,” she said.
Last month, Union Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports Anurag Thakur said the medal winners in the Tokyo Paralympics will also be rewarded at this year’s National Sports Awards and hence the ceremony was postponed.
The Sports Department of Odisha and The Para Sports Association Odisha have already recommended the names of Paralympic Gold Medalist Pramod Bhagat for the prestigious Khel Ratna Award 2021 individually on July 4.
