D. Ajay
Here ARJUNA means award which is the most prestigious, glorious and honorable award in Indian sports. Department Sports & Youth Affairs, Govt. of India are awarding this extra ordinary honor to the extra ordinary players of our country for their fabulous and unexpected performances in the international level competition during the period of last three years including that particular year on which year they are being selected. Of course the players are being considered for their qualities of leadership, sportsmanship and sense of discipline along with their performances.
It is probably the second highest award after RAJIB GHANDI KHEL RATNA in Indian sports offered by Govt. of India
Generally one player from one sports event is being selected by the department for one year. But it is not obvious that all the events will be considered in every year. The category of events has been declared in 2002 by the Ministry as either:
a) Cricket or
b) An event of Olympic Games or
c) An event of Asian Games or
d) An event of Commonwealth Games or
e) An event of World Championship or
f) Indigenous Games or
g) An event of sports for the physically challenge.
The award carries:
a) A statuette
b) A scroll of honor or citation
c) A set of ceremonial uniform.
d) Cash award of Rs. 3,00,000/-( earlier Rs.1,00,000/-)The event Table tennis was included in the category since it was started i.e. 1961 & the following 22 nos. of table tennis were bestowed by this award till today:
1) MR. J.C. VOHRA IN 1961
2) MR. G.R. DEEWAN IN 1965
3) MRS. U. SUNDARARAJ IN 1966
4) MR. F.R. KHODAIJI IN 1967
5) MD. MIR KASIM ALI IN 1969
6) MR. G. JAGANNATH IN 1970
7) MRS. K.F. KHODAIJI IN 1971
8) MR. N.R.BAJAJ IN 1973
9) MRS. S. SHAILJA IN 1976
10) MRS. INDU PURI IN 1980
11) MR. MANJIT DUA IN 1981
12) MR.V. CHANDRA SHEKHAR IN 1982
13) MR KAMALESH MEHETA IN 1985
14) MRS MONALISA BARUA IN 1987
15) MRS NIYATI SHAH IN 1989
16) MR. M.S. WALIA IN 1990
17) MR. CHETAN P. BABOOR IN 1997
18) MR. SUBRAMANIAM RAMAN IN 1998
19) MRS MANTU GHOSH IN 2002
20) MR ARCHANTA SARATH KAMAL IN 2004
21) MR.SOUMYADEEP ROY IN 2005
22) MR. SUBHAJIT SAHA IN 2007
It is clear from the above that the overall performances of the players of the event TABLE TENNIS in India are very much remarkable with respect to the other event for about last 50 years. Although the table tennis players were unable to be selected by the authority for the lack of extra ordinary performances for certain period but it is hopeful that a player from Table Tennis event will be able to be selected for the award on every year from now by the current enthusiasm, true spirit of sports & action of Table Tennis Federation of India.
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