The Hindu : Sport : Awards conferred on sportspersons

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Aug 30, 2006

Sport

Sport

Awards conferred on sportspersons

New Delhi : The President of India, A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, on Tuesday presented the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna and Arjuna awards — the country's highest sporting honours — for 2005 in recognition of outstanding achievements in various disciplines.

Dr. Kalam presented the Khel Ratna to Pankaj Advani for winning the World billiards title and the gold medal at the Asian championships last year, at a glittering ceremony at the Durbar Hall in Rashtrapati Bhavan.

Kalam also gave away the Dronacharya awards to four coaches while 15 leading sportspersons got the coveted Arjuna Awards.

For the second year running, Team India cricketers were out of the spotlight as none of them figured in the list of awardees, although woman cricket player Anju Jain bagged the Arjuna.

A beaming Advani said he was very excited on receiving the ultimate sporting honour in the country. ``I am not in a state of mind to say anything now. I am too excited,'' said Advani, who is only the second cueist after Geet Sethi to receive the Khel Ratna.

Tenzing Norgay award

The President also gave away Tenzing Norgay National Adventure Award to four persons for their outstanding contribution in the fields of land, air and water adventure.

However, the biggest round of applause was in store for Rajinder Singh Rahelu, a powerlifter, who received the Arjuna Award in the Physically Handicapped category.

President Kalam left the stage and walked up to the wheel chair-bound Athens paralympics bronze medallist, to present the trophy and the cheque. — PTI & UNI

Disappointment

Our Sports Reporter adds:

Security agencies turned back several people who came to witness the ceremony.

The invitations sent out by the Ministry of Sports and Youth Affairs did not carry any weight as the Special Protection Group (SPG) stopped the invitees citing orders from higher-ups.

The invitees were expected to take the seats by 3.45 p.m, 45 minutes before the function. The entry, however, was stopped at 3.30 p.m because the Durbar Hall was packed to capacity.

Mediapersons were not spared either. Several attempts were made requesting the intervention of the President's Press Secretary to allow them to enter, but in vain.

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