Panjab University (PU) was awarded the prestigious Maulana Abul Kalam Azad (MAKA) Trophy at the National Sports Awards 2020. PU bagged the trophy second year in a row, a feat achieved after 25 years. The varsity had lifted the trophy twice consecutively last during 1994-1996.
In the first virtual National Sports Awards ceremony due to the coronavirus pandemic, 74 sporting heroes of India were bestowed on Saturday with the honours on Sports Day, annual celebration of the birth anniversary of hockey legend Major Dhyan Chand.
Five Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna awardees and 27 Arjuna awardees, with the exception of a few, were connected to President Ram Nath Kovind at the Rashtrapati Bhavan from nine different Sports Authority of India (SAI) -designated locations.
President Ram Nath Kovind congratulated all the athletes, coaches and sports association for their tireless efforts in taking Indian sports forward.
The Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna awardees are– cricketer Rohit Sharma, wrestler Vinesh Phogat, para-athlete Mariyappan Thangavelu, women’s hockey team captain Rani Rampal, and paddler Manika Batra.
Rohit Sharma, who is in UAE for IPL 2020, could not attend the virtual ceremony. Vinesh Phogat who was supposed to be present in Sonepat, had to be in quarantine after she tested positive for Covid-19 on the eve of the award ceremony. Rani Rampal and Mariyappan Thangavelu attended the ceremony from Bengaluru and Manika Batra joined from Pune.
Dronacharya Award in lifetime category was awarded to Dharmendra Tiwary (archery), Purushotham Rai (athletics), Shiv Singh (boxing), Romesh Pathania (hockey), Krishan Kumar Hooda (kabaddi), Vijay Bhalchandra Munishwar (para powerlifting), Naresh Kumar (tennis) and Om Parkash Dahiya (wrestling).
The Arjuna Award was presented after the Dronacharya in life time category to Dutee Chand (athletics), Atanu Das (archery), Chirag Chandrasekhar Shetty (badminton), Vishesh Bhriguvanshi (basketball), Lovlina Borgohain (boxing), Subedar Manish Kaushik (boxing) Ishant Sharma (cricket), Deepti Sharma (cricket), Manu Bhaker (shooting), Dattu Baban Bhokanal (rowing), Saurabh Chaudhary (shooting), Divij Sharan (tennis), Madhurika Suhas Patkar (table tennis).
