The Arjuna Award is the second-highest national honor given to athletes in India, with the first being the Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award. It recognizes outstanding achievements in sports and games and is a symbol of recognition and appreciation for the hard work, dedication, and talent of the recipients. The 2023 edition of the Arjuna Awards saw 26 athletes from various disciplines being honored by President Droupadi Murmu on January 9, 2024.
The Arjuna Award Winners 2023 list includes athletes from a wide range of sports such as archery, athletics, boxing, chess, cricket, equestrian, golf, hockey, kabaddi, kho-kho, lawn bowls, shooting, squash, table tennis, wrestling, wushu, para-archery, blind cricket, and para canoeing.
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The list of winners is dominated by athletes who performed exceptionally well at the Asian Games 2023, where India created history by winning over 100 medals in a single edition of the event. Mohammed Shami, the Indian cricketer, became the only cricketer to receive the award after finishing as the leading wicket-taker in the World Cup 2023.
Among the recipients is Sheetal Devi, the world’s first armless woman archer, who won three medals in the Para Games in Hangzhou. Her achievement is truly remarkable and a testament to the power of determination and resilience.
#WATCH | Delhi: Para-archer Sheetal Devi received the Arjuna Award from President Droupadi Murmu at the National Sports Awards. pic.twitter.com/jwkFEd2CjH
— ANI (@ANI) January 9, 2024
Esha Singh and Aishwary Pratap Singh Tomar, who both contributed to India’s success in shooting by winning a total of 22 medals, were also honored with the Arjuna Award. Naorem Roshibina Devi, who won the silver medal in Hangzhou, and R Vaishali, the sister of young chess prodigy Rameshbabu Praggnanandhaa, were also part of the list.
Full List of Arjuna Award Winners 2023
No. | Athletes | Discipline |
1 | Ms Aditi Gopichand Swami | Archery |
2 | Shri Ojas Pravin Deotale | Archery |
3 | Shri Sreeshankar Murali | Athletics |
4 | Ms Parul Chaudhary | Athletics |
5 | Shri Mohameed Hussamuddin | Boxing |
6 | Ms R Vaishali | Chess |
7 | Shri Mohammed Shami | Cricket |
8 | Shri Anush Agarwalla | Equestrian |
9 | Ms Divyakriti Singh | Equestrian Dressage |
10 | Ms Diksha Dagar | Golf |
11 | Shri Krishan Bahadur Pathak | Hockey |
12 | Ms Pukhrambam Sushila Chanu | Hockey |
13 | Shri Pawan Kumar | Kabaddi |
14 | Ms Ritu Negi | Kabaddi |
15 | Ms Nasreen | Kho-Kho |
16 | Ms Pinki | Lawn Bowls |
17 | Shri Aishwary Pratap Singh Tomar | Shooting |
18 | Ms Esha Singh | Shooting |
19 | Shri Harinder Pal Singh Sandhu | Squash |
20 | Ms Ayhika Mukherjee | Table Tennis |
21 | Shri Sunil Kumar | Wrestling |
22 | Ms Antim Panghal | Wrestling |
23 | Ms Naorem Roshibina Devi | Wushu |
24 | Ms Sheetal Devi | Para Archery |
25 | Shri Illuri Ajay Kumar Reddy | Blind Cricket |
26 | Para Canoeing | Ms Prachi Yadav |
The Arjuna Awards are not only a recognition of the athletes’ individual achievements but also a celebration of their contributions to the development of sports in India. These athletes serve as an inspiration to aspiring sportspersons and prove that with hard work, dedication, and perseverance, one can overcome any obstacle and achieve greatness. The Arjuna Awards Winners 2023 ceremony was a proud moment for the athletes, their families, and the entire nation. It showcased the talent and potential of Indian athletes and reaffirmed the country’s commitment to promoting sports and nurturing talent.
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Congratulations to all the winners of the Arjuna Awards 2023! Your achievements are a source of pride for the nation, and we wish you continued success in your sporting journey. May you inspire future generations of athletes and bring glory to the country.