Hockey India on Tuesday nominates the name of Rani Rampal, the captain of the national women’s team, for the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award. Also, for the Arjuna Award, the names of Vandana Kataria, Monica, and the men’s team player Harmanpreet Singh have been sent. Deepa Malik and Wrestler Bajrang Punia, who won the silver medal in Paralympics last time, has already received the Khel Ratna Award. Hockey India has recommended former veterans RP Singh and Tushar Khandkar for the Lifetime Achievement Major Dhyanchand Award. Coaches BJ Cariappa and Romesh Pathania have been nominated for Dronacharya honors.

For nominating the players, their three-year (1 January 2016 to 31 December 2019) performance is seen. During these 3 years, the Indian team under the captaincy of Rani had registered a historic victory in the Women’s Asia Cup 2017, Rani earned silver in the 2018 Asian Games and in the FIH Olympic qualifiers in 2019, the team got the Olympic quota.

Rani has received Arjuna and Padma Shri honors

Rani is the first Indian woman player to be named as the World Sports Athlete of the Year and she has also received the Arjuna Award in 2016) and Padma Shri in 2020. The Indian team has reached 9th position in the FIH World Rankings only under Rani’s captaincy.

In 2017, Hockey Star Sardar Singh received the Khel Ratna

Sardar Singh was the last hockey player to receive the Khel Ratna. Earlier, in 2000 Indian hockey legend DhanrajPillai received this honor. Every year on 29 August on the birth anniversary of hockey player Major Dhyan Chand, National Sports Day is celebrated. On this occasion, when Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna, Dronacharya Award, Arjuna Award, and Dhyanchand Award are given in a simple ceremony held at President’s House.