In a dazzling ceremony presided over by President Droupadi Murmu at the Rashtrapati Bhawan, India’s most outstanding athletes of the year were honored with the prestigious Arjuna Awards. The event, typically held on August 29 to honor the birth anniversary of hockey icon Major Dhyan Chand, was rescheduled due to the Hangzhou Asian Games.
Cricketer Mohammed Shami received a thunderous welcome, highlighting the ceremony’s significance in recognizing sporting achievements. This year’s awardees include a diverse group of athletes excelling in various sports, from traditional games like hockey and cricket to emerging areas like para-archery and blind cricket.
List of Arjuna Award Winners 2023
- Ojas Pravin Deotale (Archery)
- Aditi Gopichand Swami (Archery)
- Murali Sreeshankar (Athletics)
- Parul Chaudhary (Athletics)
- Mohammad Hussamuddin (Boxing)
- R Vaishali (Chess)
- Mohammed Shami (Cricket)
- Anush Agarwalla (Equestrian)
- Divyakriti Singh (Equestrian Dressage)
- Diksha Dagar (Golf)
- Krishan Bahadur Pathak (Hockey)
- Sushila Chanu (Hockey)
- Pawan Kumar (Kabaddi)
- Ritu Negi (Kabaddi)
- Nasreen (Kho-Kho)
- Pinki (Lawn Bowls)
- Aishwary Pratap Singh Tomar (Shooting)
- Esha Singh (Shooting)
- Harinder Pal Singh Sandhu (Squash)
- Ayhika Mukherjee (Table Tennis)
- Sunil Kumar (Wrestling)
- Antim Panghal (Wrestling)
- Naorem Roshibina Devi (Wushu)
- Sheetal Devi (Para Archery)
- Illuri Ajay Kumar Reddy (Blind Cricket)
- Prachi Yadav (Para Canoeing)
These athletes have not only excelled in their respective sports but also have brought laurels to the nation through their dedication and hard work. The Arjuna Award is a testament to their commitment and serves as an inspiration for upcoming athletes across the country. The diversity of sports represented in this list is a reflection of India’s growing prowess in various sporting disciplines on the global stage.
