On a day when India’s star performers-Sakshi Malik and PV Sindhu in the just concluded Rio Olympic Games was given a grand welcome, the sport ministry announced the full list of national sports awardees.
The national Sports Awards are given every year to recognize and reward excellence in sports. Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award is given for the spectacular and most outstanding performance in the field of sports by a sportsperson over a period of four years.
Here is the full list of Khel Ratna 2016:
| S. No. | Name of the awardee | Discipline |
| 1. | Ms. P.V. Sindhu | Badminton |
| 2. | Ms. Dipa Karmakar | Gymnastics |
| 3. | Shri Jitu Rai | Shooting |
| 4. | Ms. Sakshi Malik | Wrestling |
Arjuna Award is given for consistently outstanding performance for four years.
Here’s the full list of Arjuna Awards 2016:
| S. No. | Name of the awardee | Discipline |
| 1. | Shri Rajat Chauhan | Archery |
| 2. | Ms. Lalita Babar | Athletics |
| 3. | Shri Sourav Kothari | Billiards & Snooker |
| 4. | Shri Shiva Thapa | Boxing |
| 5. | Shri Ajinkya Rahane | Cricket |
| 6. | Shri Subrata Paul | Football |
| 7. | Ms. Rani | Hockey |
| 8. | Shri Raghunath V.R. | Hockey |
| 9. | Shri Gurpreet Singh | Shooting |
| 10. | Ms. Apurvi Chandela | Shooting |
| 11. | Shri Soumyajit Ghosh | Table Tennis |
| 12. | Ms. Vinesh | Wrestling |
| 13. | Shri Amit Kumar | Wrestling |
| 14. | Shri Sandeep Singh Mann | Para-Athletics |
| 15. | Shri Virender Singh | Wrestling (Deaf) |
Dronacharya Award for coaches for producing medal winners at prestigious international sports events.
| S.No. | Name of the awardee | Discipline |
| 1 | Shri Nagapuri Ramesh | Athletics |
| 2 | Shri Sagar Mal Dhayal | Boxing |
| 3. | Shri Raj Kumar Sharma | Cricket |
| 4. | Shri Bishweshwar Nandi | Gymnastics |
| 5. | Shri S. Pradeep Kumar | Swimming (Lifetime) |
| 6. | Shri Mahabir Singh | Wrestling (Lifetime) |
All these awardees were considered by the Selection Committees consisting of former Olympians, Arjuna Awardees, Dronacharya Awardees, Dhyan Chand Awardees, Sports Journalists/Experts/Commentators and sports administrators.
Selection Committee for Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award and Arjuna Awards was headed by Justice S.K. Agarwal, Retired Delhi High Court Judge.
Selection Committee for Dronacharya Awards and Dhyan Chand Awards was headed by Ms. M.C. Mary Kom. Selection Committee for Rashtriya Khel Protsahan Puruskar was headed by Shri Rajiv Yadav, Secretary (Sports).
(Press Information Bureau)