The Board of Management for Cricket in India (BCCI) on Friday congratulated constrained-overs vice-captain Rohit Sharma, pacer Ishant Sharma and spinner Deepti Sharma on getting conferred with the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna and the Arjuna award respectively.
India’s vice-captain and opening batsman Rohit Sharma is amid the five athletes who will obtain India’s highest sporting honour — the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award for 2020. The Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports activities on Friday announced the listing of winners for Khel Ratna, Arjuna and other sports activities awards.
Rohit Sharma is only the 4th cricketer soon after Sachin Tendulkar, MS Dhoni and Virat Kohli to be conferred with Khel Ratna Award. Tendulkar was the very first Indian cricketer to bag the Khel Ratna Award when he did so in 1998. Dhoni acquired the sporting honour soon after major India to the T20 Planet Cup in 2007 though Virat Kohli won the award along with weightlifter Mirabai Chanu in 2018.
BCCI’s congratulatory tweet study: “Congratulations @ImRo45 for getting conferred with the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award, 2020, India’s highest sporting honour. He is only the fourth Indian cricketer to obtain this award. We are proud of you, Hitman!”
Congratulations @ImRo45 for getting conferred with the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award, 2020, India’s highest sporting honour. He is only the fourth Indian cricketer to obtain this award.
We are proud of you, Hitman! pic.twitter.com/ErHJtBQoj9
— BCCI (@BCCI) August 21, 2020
Moreover Rohit, his teammate Ishant Sharma and females cricketer Deepti Sharma will be receiving the Arjuna Award. BCCI congratulated each Ishant and Deepti in separate tweets.
Congratulations to our all-rounder @Deepti_Sharma06 on getting conferred on with the prestigious Arjuna Award for 2020.
Might you proceed soaring new heights. pic.twitter.com/GlYv37IMB5
— BCCI (@BCCI) August 21, 2020
Congratulations to our senior most Check bowler @ImIshant for winning the prestigious Arjuna Award for 2020.
Preserve going, champ! pic.twitter.com/WyHjMsOYBG
— BCCI (@BCCI) August 21, 2020
Along with Rohit Sharma, Asian Video games gold medalist Vinesh Phogat, table tennis champion Manika Batra, India hockey women’s captain Rani Rampal and Paralympic gold medalist Mariappan Thangavelu will also get the Khel Ratna Award.
This is the very first time in the background of Nationwide Sports activities awards that five sportspeople will be acquiring Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna award and 27 athletes will be conferred with Arjuna Award. The ceremony will be performed almost with President Ramnath Kovind offering away the awards on Aug 29.