New Delhi: The Selection Committee for National Sports Awards 2019 has confirmed that para-athlete Deepa Malik and wrestler Bajrang Punia will be conferred wit
h the prestigious Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna award.
The award is given for the spectacular and most outstanding performance in the field of sports by a sportsperson over a four-year period.
Malik will become the first female para-athlete and second para-athlete after javelin thrower Devendra Jhajharia in 2017 to be honoured with the prestigious award, Zee News reported.
She bagged a silver medal in shot put at 2016 Rio Olympics besides also winning the gold in the F-53/54 javelin throw at the Para Athletic Grand Prix in Dubai in 2018.
Besides the duo, the 12-member selection panel—headed by Justice (Retd) Mukundakam Sharma—also chose 19 players for Arjuna Award, six for Dronacharya Award and five for Dhyan Chand Award from a large number of nominations received for this year’s awards.