President Droupadi Murmu presented the national sports awards to India's top-performing athletes in an esteemed ceremony at the Rashtrapati Bhawan. Cricketer Mohammed Shami and para-archer Sheetal Devi received a warm welcome from the audience.
Shuttlers Chirag Shetty and Satwiksairaj Rankireddy were honoured with the prestigious Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna award for their outstanding achievements in 2023. This included securing India's first-ever badminton gold at the Asian Games, as well as winning the Asian Championships and the Indonesia Open Super 1000 title. The duo, currently participating in the Malaysia Open Super 1000, were unable to attend the ceremony.
Traditionally held on August 29 to commemorate the birth anniversary of hockey legend Major Dhyan Chand, the awards ceremony was postponed due to the Hangzhou Asian Games, which took place from September 23 to October 8 last year. An air of celebration filled the Rashtrapati Bhawan as 26 athletes and para-athletes were officially named recipients of the Arjuna Awards this year.
The influence of the successful Asian Games from the previous year, where India achieved a record haul of 107 medals, was palpable during the ceremony. A majority of the athletes who graced the dais were medal winners at the Hangzhou event.