Dehradun: Uttarakhand Government has released the list of awardees for the Dronacharya and Khel Ratna awards in the state. The awards will be presented by Chief Minister Dhami on March 24 to coaches and players in a ceremony. The event will honor the Devbhoomi Uttarakhand Khel Ratna Award, the Devbhoomi Uttarakhand Dronacharya Award, Lifetime Achievement Award, and cash prizes for medalists at national-level competitions in 2021 and 2022. The state government will distribute a sum of INR 2.08 crore to the coaches and players.
The Khel Ratna Awards, the highest sporting honor in the state, will be presented to the winners for the years 2019-20, 2020-21, and 2021-22. The winners include badminton player Lakshya Sen for 2019-20 and athlete Chandan Singh for 2020-21.
The Dronacharya Awards, which recognize coaches for their contributions to the field of sports, will be presented to coaches for the years 2019-20, 2020-21, and 2021-22. Badminton coach Dhirendra Kumar Sen will receive the award for 2019-20, Taekwondo coach Kamlesh Kumar Tiwari for 2020-21, and Archery coach Sandeep Kumar Duklan for 2021-22.
The Lifetime Achievement Award for 2021-22 will be presented to Suresh Chandra Pandey for his notable contribution to athletics. Pandey will be recognized for his dedication to the sport and for his continuous efforts to promote athletics in the state.
Apart from these awards, the state government will also honor 168 medalists and 42 coaches who have won medals at national-level competitions in 2021 and 2022. The players and coaches will receive cash prizes as a token of appreciation. The government will distribute a total of INR 2.08 crore to the players and coaches.
The awards ceremony will be a great platform for the players and coaches to showcase their achievements and be recognized for their hard work and dedication to sports. The awards will inspire young and aspiring players to work hard and pursue their passion for sports. The government's initiative to promote sports and recognize the efforts of athletes and coaches will go a long way in building a culture of sports in Uttarakhand.