Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan and Union Sports and Youth Affairs Minister Anurag Thakur felicitated the sports talents of the year 2020 at the Madhya Pradesh Shikhar Khel Alankaran ceremony at Rabindra Bhawan, Bhopal today.
On this occasion, the logo of Khelo India Youth Games-2022 to be held in Madhya Pradesh was also unveiled.
Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan has said that sports-friendly environment is being created in the entire Madhya Pradesh. Sports infrastructure is being developed at every district, block and panchayat level. Not only will there be excellent sports infrastructure in the state, along with this every facility will be made available to the players for sports. Madhya Pradesh will become number-1 in sports also.
Chief Minister Chouhan said that Madhya Pradesh is continuously moving forward in sports. We will leave no stone unturned in organizing the Khelo India Youth Games. The happiness of children while playing is amazing. Sports is a part of life. Life is incomplete without sports. Chief Minister Chouhan said that players who bring medals in Olympic Games will be made DSP and Deputy Collector. Players who win medals in the Khelo India Games will be given five lakh rupees every year for training. Players of Madhya Pradesh should compete strongly in the competition and bring medals. He said that a better stadium of international standard is being constructed at Barkheda Nathu in Bhopal.
Chief Minister Chouhan and Union Minister Thakur felicitated the talented players of the state with Khel Alankaran Awards for the year 2020 and released a souvenir containing the achievements of the awardees.
Chief Minister Chouhan inaugurated the program by worshiping the girl child. Sports and Youth Welfare Minister Yashodhara Raje Scindia, Farmers’ Welfare and Agriculture Development Minister Kamal Patel, Member of Parliament B.D. Sharma, Olympic Association President Ramesh Mendola, General Secretary Madhya Pradesh Boxing Olympic Association Shri Digvijay Singh and a large number of players were present.
Union Sports Minister Anurag Thakur said that the state has made a lot of progress in the field of sports in the last two decades. Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan deserves congratulations for this. It has excellent quality sports infrastructure. The shooting range here is very beautiful, the horse race center prepared in 30 acres is excellent. When our sportspersons in another country receive medals, the national anthem is played along with the hoisting of our flag. This increases the pride of our country. Under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the country has got the opportunity to conduct Chess Olympiad for the first time, whose torch relay has been launched by him. The country has got gold medal for the first time in Thomas Cup in the year 2022. One thousand Khelo India centers are being opened in the country. Chief Minister Chouhan has increased the sports budget of the state from Rs.4 crore to Rs.400 crore.
In the welcome address, Sports and Youth Welfare Minister Yashodhara Raje Scindia said that the state is moving ahead in the field of sports under the leadership of Chief Minister Shri Chouhan. Players should move forward under the leadership of their mentor and coach. Khelo India Games will start in Madhya Pradesh on January 30. The Sports Minister extended best wishes to all the sportspersons who received the Vikram and Eklavya Awards. He said that our children are doing well in all sports and bringing medals from international level. Efforts are being made to provide the best facilities to the players in the state. Players should bring laurels to the state by achieving their target.
Eklavya Award for the year 2020 was given to Sushma Verma in Kayaking-Canoeing. Tushita Singh for Soft Tennis. Sparsh Khare Wushu. Arjun Singh for the year 2020 for Equestrian, Eklavya Puraskar for 2020 in athletics was presented to Sunil Dabur’s father in his absence. Gauranshi Sharma (Divyang) was given the Eklavya Award for the year 2020 in Badminton, Ram Milan Yadav in Sailing, Ankit Sharma in Fencing, Anuradha Ahirwar in Archery, Piti Rajak in Shooting, Shashank Patel in Taekwondo, Sadhna Sengar in Hockey, Dhruv Raj Kurre was awarded Eklavya Award in Power Lifting.
Vikram Award
Vishwajit Singh Kushwaha was given Vikram Award for Canoe Slalom, Sunidhi Chauhan for Shooting , Nidhi Nanher for Karate, Paridhi Joshi for Horse Riding, Manju Bamveria for Boxing, Ekta Yadav for Sailing, Vivek Sagar Prasad for Hockey, Harshvardhan Tomar for Basketball to Pooja Malviya was awarded in Malkhamb, Prachi Yadav (Divyang) in Canoe-Kayaking.
Vishwamitra Award
Virender Kumar Dawas was awarded Vishwamitra Award in swimming (Paraathletics), Tejpal Singh Salaria in archery, Dr. Habib Hasan in hockey was giiven Vishwamitra Award for his outstanding contribution in nurturing hockey players.
Late Prabhash Joshi Sports Award
For the year 2020 late Prabhash Joshi Award was given to Vaishnavi Kahar.
Lifetime Achievement Award
Abhay Chhajlani was given the Life Time Achievement Award for the upliftment of sports in Madhya Pradesh.
