New Delhi: Assam’s star pugilist and Olympic medalist Lovlina Borgohain is in contention for the Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award for the year 2021. She has been listed among 11 other athletes for the iconic award.
Among others, it includes Olympic gold medalist and javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra, grappler Ravi Dahiya, India’s hockey goalkeeper PR Sreejesh, footballer Sunil Chhetri, and so forth. The list also includes five para-athletes representing India.
The Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna award is regarded as the highest sporting honor in the country. It is awarded by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports for “spectacular and outstanding performance in the field of sports over a period of four years”. The honor includes a certificate, a medallion, and a cash prize of INR 25 lakh.
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Reacting to this news, Borgohain dedicated the recommendation for this sporting honor to her parents. She also thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Sports Minister Anurag Thakur along with her coaches and supporting staff.
"It's one of the proudest day for me as an athlete to have been recommended for the Khel Ratna award. I would like to thank Honorable Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi sir, Sports Minister Anurag Thakur sir, SAI, BFI, coaches and everyone who is part of my journey” she said.
"I would like to dedicate this award to my parents. I will continue to work hard and my aim is to bring more laurels for my nation," she added.
Lovlina Borgohain won a bronze medal in boxing in the recently concluded Summer Olympics held in Tokyo. She also became the third Indian to win a medal in the sport in the Olympics and the first Assamese to do so.
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