The awards selection committee constituted to recommend names for Khel Ratna and Arjuna Award in 2017, and headed by Justice (Retd) C K Thakkar has recommended the names of Sardar Singh and Devendra Jhajharia for the highest sports honour of the country, Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award.
Devendra Jhajharia was the first choice of the committee for the award. However, the committee has requested the authorities to consider both the names jointly for the award. Devendra Jhajharia, the Javelin thrower has won gold in two Paralympic games. He won gold at 2004 Athens games and 2016’s Rio Paralympics. He did create new world record on both the occasions. Along with that, he also won gold in 2013 World Championship.
Sardar Singh is the former captain of Indian hockey team and currently, plays as a midfielder. He has been with the national team for quite some time now. In 2008, he became the youngest ever to captain Indian hockey team on the international level. He has received Padma Shri in 2015.
Along with the Khel Ratna Awards, the committee recommended 17 names for the Arjuna Award. The list of nominees for the Arjuna Award includes cricketers Cheteshwar Pujara & Harmanpreet Kaur, Paralympic medallists Mariyappan Thangavelu & Varun Bhati, golfer SSP Chawrasia and hockey player S V Sunil.
Khel Ratna recommendations:
- Devendra Jhajharia (Para- Athlete)
- Sardar Singh (Hockey).
Arjuna Awards recommendations :
- V J Surekha (Archery)
- Khushbir Kaur (Athletics)
- Arokin Rajiv (Athletics)
- Prasanthi Singh (Basketball)
- L Devendro Singh (Boxing)
- Cheteshwar Pujara (Cricket)
- Harmanpreet Kaur (Cricket)
- Oinam Bembem Devi (Football)
- SSP Chawrasia (Golf)
- S V Sunil (Hockey)
- Jasvir Singh (Kabaddi)
- P N Prakash (Shooting)
- A Amalraj (Table Tennis)
- Saketh Myneni (Tennis)
- Satyawart Kadian (Wrestling)
- Mariyappan Thangavelu (Para-Athlete)
- Varun Bhati (Para-Athlete).