27 June 21
Yashashree MalPathak
www.mediaeyenews.com
Hockey India, announced their recommendations for the National Sports Awards for 2021 on Saturday.
Hockey India has recommended goalkeeper PR Sreejesh and former Indian women's hockey player Deepika Thakur for the Rajeev Gandhi Khel Ratna Award, India's highest sporting honor.
Three athletes nominated for the prestigious Arjuna Award are Harmanpreet Singh, Vandana Katariya, and Navjot Kaur. Hockey India has nominated coaches BJ Kariappa and CR Kumar for the Dronacharya Award. Dr. RP Singh and Ms. M Ch. Sanggai Ibemhal have been recommended for the Dhyan Chand Award for Lifetime Achievement by Hockey India.
The assessment term for the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Prize spans from January 1, 2017, to December 31, 2020.
Parattu Raveendran Sreejesh, a veteran hockey goalkeeper nominated for the Khel Ratna Award, has been a key contributor to India's silver medal win at the 2018 Hockey Champions Trophy in Breda. He was a member of the gold-medal-winning FIH Men's Series Finals team in Bhubaneswar, Odisha, as well as the bronze-medal winning FIH Men's Series Finals team at the 2018 Asian Games. PR Sreejesh received the Arjuna Award in 2015. In 2017, he was also awarded with Padma Shri. The renowned goalkeeper is currently preparing for his third Olympic Games.
Former field hockey player Deepika Thakur, Khel Ratna nominee has been a crucial part of the silver medal-winning Indian Women's Hockey Team, at the 2018 Asian Games. She has contributed to the Asian Champions Trophy 2018. Deepika has represented India twice in the World Cup and Commonwealth Games, and three times in the Asian Games, scoring a total of 24 goals. She was conferred with the Arjuna Award in 2020.
Harmanpreet Singh is the vice-captain of India's Tokyo Olympics-bound men's team who is nominated for the Arjuna Awards 2021. In 2015, Harmanpreet Singh made his senior debut. He has proven to be an excellent drag-flicker and defender. He led India in its victory in the FIH Olympic Test event in Tokyo. He has over 100 international caps under his name.
Arjuna Award nominee Vandana Kataria is a part of the forwards for the Indian women's hockey team in the upcoming Tokyo Olympics — which will be her second Olympic games. She was India's leading goal scorer in the 2013 Women's Hockey Junior World Cup and has made around 240 appearances and 64 goals for India since then.
Navjot Kaur is an Indian women's hockey team forward who has been nominated for the Arjuna Award. She has around 172 caps.
