Indian cricketer Mohammed Shami, a stalwart in the world of cricket, was among the 26 athletes honored with the esteemed Arjuna Award by President Draupadi Murmu on Tuesday. The veteran bowler, who played a pivotal role in India’s ODI World Cup 2023 campaign, personally received the award and expressed his gratitude on social media. Shami thanked the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), his teammates, family, and supporters for their unwavering encouragement throughout his journey.
In a heartfelt post on X (formerly Twitter), Shami shared his pride, saying, “Today I am feeling very proud that I have been honored with the prestigious Arjuna Award by the President. I want to thank all those people who have helped me a lot to reach here and have always supported me in my ups and downs… thanks to My Coach, BCCI, teammates, my family, staff, and big thanks to my fans.”
Today I am feeling very proud that I have been honored with the prestigious Arjuna Award by the President. I want to thank all those people who have helped me a lot to reach here and have always supported me in my ups and downs… thanks to My Coach, BCCI,team mates,my family,… pic.twitter.com/fWLGKfY5g8
— 𝕸𝖔𝖍𝖆𝖒𝖒𝖆𝖉 𝖘𝖍𝖆𝖒𝖎 (@MdShami11) January 9, 2024
Currently recovering from an ankle injury, Shami emphasized his commitment to maintaining fitness for upcoming tournaments and series. He took an impressive 24 wickets in seven World Cup games last year.
The chess community celebrated the achievement of R. Vaishali, the newly-crowned chess Grandmaster and elder sister of prodigious talent R. Praggnanandhaa. Vaishali became the third woman in India, following Koneru Humpy and Dronavalli Harika, to attain the prestigious Grandmaster title.
Notably absent from the ceremony was pistol shooting sensation Esha Singh, 19, who is participating in the Asian Olympic Qualifiers in Jakarta.
Among the other Arjuna awardees were wrestler Antim Panghal, boxer Mohammad Hussamuddin, and para archer Sheetal Devi. Devi, overcoming the challenges of a rare condition called Phocomelia, secured two gold medals in the Hangzhou Asian Games, establishing herself as the first international para archer without upper limbs.
In the realm of coaching, chess coach RB Ramesh, known for grooming young talent like Praggnanandhaa, was honored with the Dronacharya Award.
The prestigious awards carry significant cash prizes, with the Khel Ratna offering Rs 25 lakh, and the Arjuna and Dronacharya awards including a cash prize of Rs 15 lakh each. The recipients expressed their dedication to continue contributing to the nation’s pride through their respective fields.
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