National Sports Awards likely to be held virtually 

This year’s National Sports Awards ceremony is probably going to be held virtually thanks to the COVID-19 pandemic, with all the winners logging in from their respective places to listen to their names being announced on August 29.

The National Sports Day is widely known on August 29, the birth anniversary of hockey wizard Dhyan Chand.

“The sports awards function this year is probably going to be a web function. As per the govt of India instructions, the awardees also will be announced on the morning of the day of the function,” a Sports Ministry source told PTI on Monday.

The pandemic had in June forced the ministry to increase the deadline for submission of online applications for the awards.

It also allowed athletes to self-nominate in sight of the “difficulties” being faced by them find people that can recommend their names amid the lockdown.

The self-nomination has resulted during a huge number of applicants for the awards.

The National Sports Awards include the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award, the Arjuna Award, Dronacharya Award and therefore the Dhyan Chand Award, which are conferred per annum by the President of India at the Rashtrapati Bhavan on August 29.

On the primary day of the meeting on Monday, 13 and 15 candidates were recommended for the Dronacharya and Dhayan Chand Award respectively.

Ignored last year, shooting legend Jaspal Rana on Monday found his name among the 13 coaches recommended for this year’s Dronacharya award by the sports ministry’s selection committee.