On January 9, India celebrated the exceptional achievements of its top athletes as they were honored with the prestigious national sports awards in a grand ceremony at Rashtrapati Bhawan, where President Droupadi Murmu conferred the accolades. Badminton duo Chirag Shetty and Satwiksairaj Rankireddy were bestowed with the Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna award for their remarkable performances in 2023.
The duo achieved a historic milestone by securing India’s first-ever gold in badminton at the Asian Games. Additionally, they clinched titles at the Asian Championships and the Indonesia Open Super 1000, showcasing their dominance in the sport.
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Cricketing maestro Mohammed Shami was also among the honored sportsmen, receiving the Arjuna Award for his outstanding contributions to the sport. Reacting to this recognition, Shami expressed his pride on social media, stating, “Today I am feeling very proud that I have been honored with the prestigious Arjuna Award by the President.”
Today I am feeling very proud that I have been honored with the prestigious Arjuna Award by the President. I want to thank all those people who have helped me a lot to reach here and have always supported me in my ups and downs… thanks to My Coach, BCCI,team mates,my family,… pic.twitter.com/fWLGKfY5g8
— 𝕸𝖔𝖍𝖆𝖒𝖒𝖆𝖉 𝖘𝖍𝖆𝖒𝖎 (@MdShami11) January 9, 2024
He further added, “I want to thank all those people who have helped me a lot to reach here and have always supported me in my ups and downs… thanks to My Coach, BCCI, teammates, my family, staff, and big thanks to my fans. Thanks for recognizing my hard work. I will always try to give my best to make my country proud… Again thanks to everyone.”
Expressing his elation earlier upon being declared the recipient of the Arjuna Award, Mohammed Shami remarked, “This award is a dream, life passes, and people are not able to win this award. I am happy that I have been nominated for this award…”
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The Khel Ratna award, which includes a cash prize of ₹25 lakh, was presented to the badminton pair for their stellar achievements. The Arjuna and Dronacharya awards, which come with a cash prize of ₹15 lakh each, were bestowed upon Mohammed Shami and other deserving recipients, recognizing their significant contributions to Indian sports. The awards ceremony was a testament to the nation’s appreciation for the dedication and excellence exhibited by its sports stars.
