Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Paralympian Awardee – Devendra Jhajharia
Devendra Jhajharia became the first para athlete to receive India’s highest sporting honour – Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna awards, who has endured trying times off the field in the last one year. Javelin thrower Jhajharia is the only Indian to win two Paralympic gold medals – 2004 Athens Games and 2016 Rio Paralympics.
Arjuna Paralympian Awardees
Paralympians Mariyappan Thangavelu and Varun Singh Bhati sportspersons to receive the prestigious Arjuna Awards this year.
Thangavelu won gold in the men’s high jump T-42 category at the 2016 Paralympic Games in Rio de Janeiro. He was earlier awarded the Padma Shri in January this year.
Bhati took bronze at the 2016 Paralympics in the men’s high jump T-42 category.