Indian cricketer Mohammed Shami was honored with the prestigious Arjuna Award on January 9, presented by the President of India, Droupadi Murmu. Shami’s recognition comes on the heels of his outstanding performance in the recently concluded ODI World Cup 2023, where he emerged as the highest wicket-taker of the tournament.
Mohammed Shami’s journey from the humble streets of Uttar Pradesh to the grandeur of Rashtrapati Bhavan serves as an inspiring tale for aspiring Indian athletes. Following the Khel Ratna, the Arjuna Award stands as the second most coveted sporting honor for any athlete.
President Murmu conferred the Arjuna Awards upon 26 exceptional athletes, including the Indian speedster, in a ceremony held in New Delhi on January 9. Shami’s trajectory in the ODI World Cup 2023 was nothing short of extraordinary. Initially benched for the first four matches, fate took a turn when Hardik Pandya suffered an unfortunate ankle injury against Bangladesh on October 19.
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Seizing the opportunity, Shami made a resounding return to the playing XI. His impactful performance against New Zealand in the round-robin stage, where he claimed an impressive 5-wicket haul, marked the beginning of his resurgence.
President Droupadi Murmu presents the Arjuna Award 2023 to Mohammad Shami for his excellent performance.#NationalSportsAwards2023 @MdShami11 pic.twitter.com/m0NHOnvdG8
— Doordarshan Sports (@ddsportschannel) January 9, 2024
The pacer’s outstanding form continued, culminating in a remarkable tally of 24 wickets, placing him ahead of the esteemed Jasprit Bumrah and underlining his pivotal role in India’s historic campaign.
Beyond the recent World Cup, Shami’s prowess was evident during the ODI World Cup 2019. Substituting for an injured Bhuvneshwar Kumar, he etched his name in history during a match against Afghanistan by claiming a hat-trick. This achievement made him only the second Indian to achieve such a feat in World Cups, concluding with figures of 4/40 – a rare accomplishment in the ICC World Cup.
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The Arjuna Awards acknowledged 26 athletes for their outstanding performances throughout 2023, prominently featuring talents from the Asian Games. India’s unprecedented success at the 2023 Asian Games in China was a monumental achievement, securing a record-breaking haul of 107 medals, surpassing the previous record of 70 medals achieved during the Jakarta 2018 Asian Games.
