New Delhi

Indian opening batter Shikhar Dhawan, Tokyo 2020 Paralympics silver medallist Bhavina Patel, and Para shuttler and Noida DM Suhas Yathiraj were among the 35 athletes who received the prestigious Arjuna Award on Saturday.

The President of India Ram Nath Kovind on Saturday conferred National Sports Awards to the athletes.

 Simranjit Kaur (Hockey), Bhavani Devi (Fencing), Monika (Hockey), Vandana Katariya (Hockey), Sandeep Narwal (Kabaddi), Hiimani Uttam Parab (Mallakhamb), Abhishek Verma (Shooting), Ankita Raina (Tennis), Deepak Punia (Wrestling), Dilpreet Singh (Hockey), Harman Preet Singh (Hockey), Rupinder Pal Singh (Hockey), Surender Kumar (Hockey), Amit Rohidas (Hockey), Birendra Lakra (Hockey), Sumit (Hockey), Nilakanta Sharma (Hockey), Hardik Singh (Hockey), Vivek Sagar Prasad (Hockey), Gurjant Singh (Hockey), Mandeep Singh (Hockey), Shamsher Singh (Hockey), Lalit Kumar Upadhyay (Hockey), Varun Kumar (Hockey), Simranjeet Singh (Hockey), Yogesh Kathuniya (Para-Athletics), Nishad Kumar (Para-Athletics), Praveen Kumar (Para-Athletics), Singhraj Adhana (Para Shooting), Harvinder Singh (Para Archery), and Sharad Kumar (Para-Athletics) are other athletes who were conferred with the prestigious award.

All men's Hockey India team members who won the historic bronze medal in Tokyo 2020 Olympics have been awarded Arjun Award with the exception of PR Sreejesh and Manpreet Singh -- conferred the Khel Ratna Award.

President Kovind confers Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award, 2021 on Ms Avani Lekhara in recognition of her outstanding achievements in Para Shooting.

• Gold Medal in Women's 10 Air Rifle in 2020 Tokyo Paralympics
• Bronze Medal in Women's 50m Rifle in 2020 Tokyo Paralympics pic.twitter.com/kBhPpRsJT0

— President of India (@rashtrapatibhvn) November 13, 2021

Arjuna Award for outstanding performance in Sports and Games is given for good performance over a period of the previous four years and showing qualities of leadership, sportsmanship and a sense of discipline.

The specially organised award function is being held at the Rashtrapati Bhavan. National Sports Awards are given every year to recognise and reward excellence in sports.