arjuna award

Randhir Singh, India’s first Asian Games shooting gold medallist and a veteran sports administrator, passed away at 79 after battling age-related illnesses. A five-time Olympian, he later served as Secretary General of the Indian Olympic Association and President of the Olympic Council of Asia, leaving behind a lasting legacy in Indian and Asian sports.

Randhir Singh, a celebrated shooter and administrator, has died at 79. He was a pioneer in Indian shooting, winning gold at the 1978 Asian Games. Singh also served as Secretary General of the Indian Olympic Association for over two decades. His contributions shaped sports governance and strengthened India's international presence. Tributes highlight his leadership and dedication to athletes.

Abhijeet Gupta has alleged that his Rs 5.5 lakh winner’s prize from the Odisha GM Open, held in January 2026 with a Rs 45 lakh prize pool, remains unpaid. The arjuna awardee criticised organisers and the All India Chess Federation for a lack of accountability, saying repeated emails went unanswered. Gupta urged authorities to protect the “dignity and trust” of Indian chess players.

Archer Jyothi Surekha Vennam, known for her calm under pressure, recently secured a gold medal at the Archery World Cup in Mexico. Transitioning from swimming due to facility limitations, Vennam found success in archery, winning multiple accolades including an arjuna award. Her journey highlights unwavering family support and a steely competitive spirit.

The selection committee had submitted its final list nearly four months ago, in December, but the ministry has paused the announcement. Athletes have criticised the move, saying it weakens the role of the committee and puts pressure on those who have already met the set criteria.

Dhruv Vikram's intense kickboxing training video has ignited speculation about an upcoming boxing film. His "new film, new sport" caption fuels rumors of a sports drama, potentially produced by a leading banner and helmed by debutant director Karan Aravind Kumar. This follows his physically demanding role in 'Bison'.

Despite winning multiple World Cups, India's blind cricketers, both men and women, face a stark reality of poor facilities and financial insecurity. Victories offer temporary relief through government rewards, but a lack of long-term support and institutional backing leaves players struggling for financial stability and consistent opportunities.

Asian Games silver medallist Mahesh Ramachandran has gone missing in a speedboat accident near the Maldives coast. The former Indian Navy commander was a highly respected international athlete, with former colleagues recalling his competitive spirit and significant achievements, including an arjuna award in 2002. Ramachandran was instrumental in establishing the Watermanship Training Centre at the Naval Academy.

The Supreme Court on Monday said conferment of Bharat Ratna and Padma and arjuna awards were the sole discretion of the Union government and the selection of persons for these awards could not be adjudicated upon by the judiciary.

Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal on Friday congratulated sprinter Hima Das on being selected for the 2018 arjuna award.

In an unusual move, ace lifter Mirabai Chanu has been nominated for the arjuna award by the national federation through the former world champion is already a recipient of Khel Ratna, country's highest sporting honour. The Indian Weightlifting Federation (IWLF) has nominated Chanu along with Ragala Venkat Rahul and Punam Yadav. Chanu had received the Khel Ratna in 2018.

Olympic silver medallist Ravi Dahiya wants to have the arjuna award before the Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award, the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) has said.

Judo player Navjot Chana, who is a Commonwealth Games silver-medallist, has said that he does not want to continue the sport after being overlooked for arjuna award, yet again.

Women's all-rounder Deepti Sharma on Monday said that she has always dreamt of being conferred with the prestigious arjuna award.

Indian women hockey team's Poonam Rani on Sunday expressed disappointment with this year's arjuna award announcement and raised questions over being 'ignored' for the accolade.

The sports ministry has finally decided not to confer the arjuna award on athlete Renjith Maheshwary after finding in an inquiry that the triple jumper was banned for three months for a doping violation in 2008.

Indian women's hockey team forward Vandana Katariya and midfielder Monika are ecstatic about being nominated for the arjuna award.

The Delhi high court asked the Centre to consider a sportsman's plea that he should be selected for arjuna awards on the basis of his achievements in the game of Ten Pin Bowling.

Archer Ojas Pravin Deotale is recommended for the arjuna award after winning a golden hat-trick at the Hangzhou Asian Games. He will be the second sportsperson from Nagpur to receive this prestigious award. The first awardee from the city was para-powerlifter Vijay Munishwar, who represented India at Barcelona, Atlanta, and Sydney Paralympics. Ojas, at 21 years old, has brought laurels to the country and deserves this recognition. His gold medals at the Asian Games and the World Championship in Berlin earned him the required points for the award.

The Centre on Thursday told the Delhi High Court that the case of boxer Manoj Kumar, who challenged the arjuna award committee's decision to not consider him for the honour, will be placed before the panel again and irrespective of its decision, the sports ministry will consider his eligibility for the award.

India opening batter Shikhar Dhawan, who was conferred with arjuna award on Saturday, has said he will continue to work hard to make the country proud.

Sprinter Dutee Chand, who is among the 27 athletes in the country to have been named for the arjuna award-2020, said her hard work over the years has finally paid off.