New Delhi. The President, Smt. Pratibha Devisingh Patil gave away Sports and Adventure Awards at a ceremony at Rashtrapati Bhawan today. The function was attended by several Union Ministers including the Defence Minister Shri A.K. Antony, the Minister for Youth Affairs & Sports Dr. M.S. Gill, the Minister of Tribal Affairs, Shri Kanti Lal Bhuria, the Minister of New & Renewable Energy Resources, Dr Farukh Abdullah and Shri Parkashbapu Patil, Minister of State for Youth Affairs & Sports, and several eminent sports persons.

Ms. Saina Nehwal, who was to receive the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award this year for her sterling performance in Badminton, could not attend the ceremony because of her sports engagements.

Shri Satish Pillai (Athletics), Shri Kuldeep Singh (Wrestling) and Ms. Anita Chanu (Weightlifting) were conferred Dhyan Chand Awards for the year 2010, for their contribution to sports by their performance and efforts to promote the sports. The award carries a statuettes, citations and cash prize of Rs 5 lakh each.

The President also gave away Dronacharya Awards for the this year to Shri A.K. Kutty (Athletics), Shri Subhash B. Aggarwal (Billiards & Snooker), Shri L. Ibomcha Singh (Boxing), Shri Ajay Kumar Bansal (Hockey) and Captain Chandrup (Wrestling) in recognition of their meritorious achievements in the field of coaching. The award carries a statuettes, citations and enhanced cash prize of Rs 5 lakh each.

Shri Joseph Abraham (Athletics), Ms. Krishna Poonia (Athletics), Shri Dinesh Kumar (Boxing), Shri Parimrajan Negi (Chess), Ms. Jhulan Goswami (Cricket Women), Shri Deepak Kumar Mandal (Football), Shri Sandeep Singh (Hockey (Men), Shri Dinesh Kumar (Kabaddi), Shri Sanjeev Rajput (Shooting), Shri Rehan Jehangir Poncha (Swimming), Shri Kapil Dev K.J. (Volleyball), Shri Rajeev Tomar (Wrestling), Shri Rajesh Chaudhary (Yachting) and Shri Jagseer Singh (Paralympic Athletics) were conferred Arjuna Awards for the year 2010, in recognition of their outstanding achievements in the respective field of sports. Ms. Jasjeet Kaur Handa (Hockey Women) also an Arjun Awardee, could not attend the ceremony as she is currently abroad participating in an international tournament. The Award carries a statuettes, citations and enhanced cash prize of Rs 5 lakh each.

With a view to recognize, the contribution made to sports development by entities other than sportspersons and coaches, the Government has instituted last year , a new award “Rashtriya Khel Protsahan Puruskar”, which has four categories, namely, community sports development, promotion of sports academies of excellence, support to elite sportspersons and employment to sportspersons.

The Services Sports Control Board was conferred upon Rashtriya Khel Protsahan Puruskar Award for the year 2010, under the category of Community Sports Identification and Nurturing of Budding Young Talent. The Defence Minister, Shri A.K. Antony received this Award.

The Khel Evam Yuva Kalyan Vibhag, Government of Madhya Pradesh also received the Rashtriya Khel Protsahan Puruskar for Establishment and Management of Sports Academies of Excellence. The Chief Minister of the State Shri Shivraj Singh Chauhan received this award. The Award was also conferred upon the Services Sports Control Board for Employment of sportsperson and sports welfare measures. The same Award was also conferred upon Tata Steel Limited for Financial Support for Sports Excellence. The Award carries a trophy and citation.

As a result of switchover to current year format, two universities have been selected for Maulana Abul Kalam Azad Trophy (MAKA). For the year 2008-09 , Punjabi University, Patiala has been awarded Trophy while Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar has been awarded for the year 2009-10. Both the universities received a cash prize of Rs.10 lakh each and Rolling Trophy along with a small replica of the MAKA Trophy for retention by the Universities. While Punjabi University will keep the trophy for the first six months, Guru Nanak Dev University will keep the trophy for next six months.

The President also conferred Tenzing Norgay National Adventure Awards for the year 2009 to recognize the contribution and performance of the awardees in the field of adventure sports. Ms. Chandraprabha Aitwal was given Life Time Achievement Award. HC Kamlesh Kumar Bounthiyal for Land Adventure, Wg. Com. Jai Kishan for Air Adventure and Shri Sufyan Sheikh for Water Adventure were also awarded. The award carries cash prize of Rs 5 lakh and Bronze Statuette along with a citation.