NEW DELHI: Hockey India Thursday day announced the recommended players for the esteemed Arjuna Award, Dronacharya Award and Major Dhyan Chand Award for Lifetime Achievement 2018.
Amongst the names, Dharamvir Singh, Manpreet Singh and Indian Women’s Team ace goalkeeper Savita have been recommended for the Arjuna Award while former India Men’s captain Bharat Chetri have been recommended for the Dhyan Chand Award for Lifetime Achievement. Hockey India also recommended coach BS Chauhan for the Dronacharya Award.
“We are happy to endorse these hockey players who have immensely contributed to Indian hockey. They have proven their worth with significant performances that has elevated the Indian team to new heights. They have donned the India colours with pride and have given it their all to help the team win several accolades within the country and internationally. We at Hockey India are proud of their achievements and are happy to recommend their names for the National awards,” Mohd Mushtaque Ahmad, secretary general, Hockey India, said on the recommendations.
Punjab’s Dharamvir Singh is an invaluable midfielder of the Indian men’s hockey team and was part of the Gold medal feat at the 2014 Asian Games in Incheon, Korea. Manpreet Singh, on the other hand, has had an illustrious run in the last 5 years. He captained the Indian team in the absence of PR Sreejesh who was injured last year. He was part of the Asia Cup success where India beat Malaysia to lift the title. He also led the Indian team to a Bronze medal at the Odisha Men’s Hockey World League Final Bhubaneswar 2017. With over 200 International caps for the Indian team, Manpreet Singh was part of the team that clinched silver medals at the FIH Champions Trophy in London last year and the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow. He also has the Asian Games Gold medal to his credit.
Indian women’s team goalkeeper Savita has been a trusted guard in the Indian post over the past few years. The 27-year-old from Haryana was instrumental in India’s historic Asia Cup win last year where she made a stunning save in the penalty shootout that helped India beat higher ranked China in the final. Her performance was critical in helping India qualify for the World Cup as continental champions after a gap of 13 years. Savita has been part of the Indian team’s resurgence and was part of the Indian team that qualified for the Olympics after 36 years. She was also key member of the team that won the Asian Champions Trophy in 2016 and was also in the team at the recently held Commonwealth Games where India made the semi-final after 12 long years and eventually finished fourth in the quadrennial event.
Bharat Chetri, former India goalkeeper and captain, led the team at the 2012 London Olympics. He was part of the Indian team that won Silver at the 2010 Commonwealth Games. He also won a Bronze medal at the 2010 Asian Games. Currently he is mentoring the Indian goalkeepers of the men’s and women’s hockey teams.
Retired senior hockey coach BS Chauhan, recommended for the Dronacharya Award, has long served hockey as the coach at Sports Authority of India, Bengaluru. Ever-enthusiastic to develop hockey at the grassroots, BS Chauhan has also assisted the Indian team coaches and provided his full support when the teams were based out of SAI, Bengaluru.
