BHOPAL, 24 August 2007 — Sabah Khan and Riyazuddin are among the top 23 sportspersons who have been named to receive the Vikram Award, the Madhya Pradesh Government’s highest sports awards for 2006.
The Madhya Pradesh Government announced the names of the recipients of highest sports awards of the State viz. Vikram, Eklavya, Vishwamitra and Lifetime achievement awards. Vikram awards are being awarded to the sports personalities who have done the State and India proud in various events.
The winner is awarded Rs. 50,000 and a memento. While the Eklavya awards are given to junior players who have made the state proud by winning medals in various meets. The winner of the Eklavya Award will be given Rs. 30,000 and a memento. The Vishwamitra Award is presented to coaches who have helped their wards to give sterling performances in national and international meets winning medals. Three coaches have been bestowed this honor this time who will receive Rs. 50,000 each and a memento.
The awards will be be presented on late Indian hockey wizard Dhyanchand’s birth anniversary on August 29, which is celebrated as the Sports Day in India.
According to Madhya Pradesh Sports Director Sanjay Chaudhary 350 application were received for different sports awards this year. After scrutiny the selection committee recommended names of 10 players for the Vikram awards, nine for Eklavya awards and three for Vishwamitra awards.
The selection committee constituted by the State Government to pick the awardees consisted of Principal Secretary, Public Works Department, P.D. Meena, international hockey player Sunita Chandra and former hockey Olympian Ashok Kumar.
The recipient of the awards are as follows:
Vikram Awardees: Sabah Khan (Karate), Amish P Pottan Athletics), Sunil Kewat (Water Sports), Neelam Mishra (Wushu), Darshana Wakde (Kabaddi), Riyazuddin (Basketball), Rohit Patel (Wrestling), Sumer Singh (Equestrian), Munnalal Bhamoria (Malkhamb) and Manish Kumar (Hand Wrestling);
Eklavya Awardees: Amit Kumar Pilaniya Shooting), Anjali Koshta (Wushu), Basant Sharma Karate), Chandrakant Uikey (Fencing), Aishwarya Agrawal (Tennis), Varsha Choudhary (Cricket), Heta Dave (Swimming), Lakhan Singh Rajput (Throwball) and Rajni Jha (Swimming);
Vishwamitra Awardees: Jaidev Sharma (Karate, Gwalior), Umesh Kumar (Wrestling, Indore) and Ashish Kumar (Throwball, Bhopal);
Lifetime achievement Award: A.V. Singh, former Chief Secretary to Govt. of M.P.
