Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award and Arjuna Awards 2012

The Government has announced the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award and Arjuna Awards for the year 2012,

A large number of nominations were received for these awards this year, which were considered by Selection Committee consisting of eminent sportspersons and sports administrators; headed by Col Rajya Vardhan Singh Rathore. Based on the recommendations of the Committee and after due scrutiny, the Government has approved to confer awards upon the following sportspersons. 

Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award - 2012:

Vijay Kumar	Shooting
Yogeshwar Dutt	Wrestling

Arjuna Awards 2012:

  

Deepika Kumari	Archery
Laishram Bombayla Devi	Archery
Sudha Singh	Athletics
Kavita Ramdas Raut	Athletics
Ashwani Ponnappa	Badminton
Parupalli Kashyap	Badminton
Aditya S. Mehta	Billiards & Snooker
Vikas Krishan	Boxing
Yuvraj Singh	Cricket
Sardar Singh	Hockey
Yashpal Solanki	Judo
Anup Kumar	Kabaddi
Samir Suhag	Polo
Annu Raj Singh	Shooting
Omkar Singh	Shooting
Joydeep Karmakar	Shooting
Deepika Pallikal	Squash
Sandeep Sejwal	Swimming
Sonia Chanu	Weightlifting
Narsingh Yadav	Wrestling
Rajinder Kumar	Wrestling
Geeta Phogat	Wrestling
Bimoljit Singh	Wushu
Deepa Mallick	Athletics – Paralympics
Ramkaran Singh	Athletics – Paralympics

Normally  only one award of Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna  is given every year to an individual sportsperson. However, the Scheme provides that this condition can be relaxed in exceptional circumstances viz., winning of an Olympic medal. Like wise for the Arjuna Awards, normally not more than 15 awards are to be given in any calendar year.  However, the Scheme of Arjuna Awards also provides that keeping in view the performance of Indian sportspersons in the Commonwealth, Asian Games and Olympic Games during a particular year, Arjuna Awards exceeding 15 in number may be allowed with proper justification and approval of the Minister for Youth Affairs & Sports.  The Selection Committee noted that 2012 is the Olympic year and India has won 6 medals in the London Olympics, which is country’s best performance in Olympic Games, and recommended that the condition of one award in case of Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna and 15 awards in case of Arjuna Awards may be relaxed and the number of Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award may be increased from 1 (one) to 2 (two) and Arjun Awards may be increased from 15 (fifteen) to 25 (twenty five). 

National Sports Awards are given every year to recognize and reward excellence in sports.  Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award is given for spectacular performance in the year under consideration; Arjuna Award is given for consistently outstanding performance for three consecutive years preceding the year of award.    

Apart from a medal and a citation, Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Awardees will receive a cash prize of Rs.7.5 lakh each and Arjuna Awardees will receive statuettes, citations and cash prize of Rs.5 lakh each