On Friday, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) congratulated the veteran Indian opener, Rohit Sharma, who will be conferred with the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna award on August 29. He has become the fourth Indian cricketer to receive the coveted award as the other three cricketers to have won this prestigious award are none other than Sachin Tendulkar, MS Dhoni, and Virat Kohli.
The BCCI took to Twitter and they wrote: “Congratulations @ImRo45 for being conferred with the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award, 2020, India’s highest sporting honour. He is only the fourth Indian cricketer to receive this award. We are proud of you, Hitman!”
Congratulations @ImRo45 for being conferred with the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award, 2020, India’s highest sporting honour. He is only the fourth Indian cricketer to receive this award.
We are proud of you, Hitman! pic.twitter.com/ErHJtBQoj9
— BCCI (@BCCI) August 21, 2020
Apart from Rohit, Mariyappan T. (Para-Athletics), Manika Batra (Table Tennis), Vinesh Phogat (Wrestling) and Rani Rampal (Hockey) will also be receiving the coveted Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award this year.
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The cricket governing body in India also congratulated pacer Ishant Sharma and women team’s Deepti Sharma as both players will receive Arjuna Award this year. Congratulating both the cricketers, BCCI tweeted: “Congratulations to our senior most Test bowler @ImIshant for winning the prestigious Arjuna Award for 2020. Keep going, champ!”
Congratulations to our senior most Test bowler @ImIshant for winning the prestigious Arjuna Award for 2020.
Keep going, champ! pic.twitter.com/WyHjMsOYBG
— BCCI (@BCCI) August 21, 2020
In another tweet, BCCI wrote, “Congratulations to our all-rounder @Deepti_Sharma06 on being conferred upon with the prestigious Arjuna Award for 2020. May you continue soaring new heights.”
Congratulations to our all-rounder @Deepti_Sharma06 on being conferred upon with the prestigious Arjuna Award for 2020.
May you continue soaring new heights. pic.twitter.com/GlYv37IMB5
— BCCI (@BCCI) August 21, 2020
National Sports Awards which include the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna award, the Arjuna award, the Dronacharya award, and the Dhyan Chand Award, which have been received by the athletes every year by the President of India at the Rashtrapati Bhavan on August 29, the National Sports Day.
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However, this year, the names would be announced by President Ram Nath Kovind virtually due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. As per the sources of ANI, the sports ministry said, “The ceremony will take place virtually but what we will have to see how the exact process would pan out.”
