Arjuna Award Conferred on Mohammed Shami at Rashtrapati Bhawan Ceremony
New Delhi, 10th January 2024: In a grand ceremony at the Rashtrapati Bhawan, President Droupadi Murmu awarded the prestigious Arjuna Award to Mohammed Shami for his outstanding performance in the 2023 ODI World Cup. Shami’s remarkable achievement as India’s leading wicket-taker, securing 24 wickets, including three five-wicket hauls, played a pivotal role in India’s runner-up finish. The national sports awards ceremony, usually held on August 29 to honour Major Dhyan Chand, was postponed due to the Asian Games in China.
Among the 26 athletes and para-athletes honoured, Esha Singh, the 19-year-old shooter who recently qualified for the Paris Olympics, was unable to attend the event as she was competing in the Asian Olympic Qualifiers in Jakarta.
In the Durbar Hall, 25 recipients, including Mohammed Shami, received warm applause for their exceptional contributions to Indian sports. Shami, who initially started as a substitute in the World Cup, showcased a stellar performance, earning him the prestigious Arjuna Award. Recovering from an ankle injury sustained during the World Cup, Shami joined the esteemed list of Indian cricketers who have received this honour.
The Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award for 2023 was bestowed upon Chirag Shetty and Satwik Sairaj Rankireddy in badminton. The Arjuna Award recipients spanned various sports, including archery, athletics, boxing, chess, equestrian, golf, hockey, kabaddi, kho-kho, lawn bowls, shooting, squash, table tennis, wrestling, wushu, para archery, blind cricket, and para canoeing.
Exceptional coaches were acknowledged with the Dronacharya Award in both regular and lifetime categories, covering disciplines such as wrestling, chess, para-athletics, hockey, mallakhamb, golf, and kabaddi. The Dhyan Chand Award for lifetime achievement recognized contributions in badminton, hockey, and kabaddi.
In the academic sports arena, the Maulana Abul Kalam Azad (MAKA) Trophy 2023, awarded to the overall winner university, was clinched by Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar. Lovely Professional University, Punjab, and Kurukshetra University, Kurukshetra, secured the 1st and 2nd runner-up positions, respectively. The awards ceremony celebrated the diverse talents and achievements across various sports and disciplines in the country.
