National Sports Awards 2020 Live Updates: President Ram Nath Kovind Honours 65 Indian Athletes in Virtual Event on National Sports Day

President Ram Nath Kovind congratulated all the athletes, coaches and sports association on their awards and for their inspiring efforts on and off the field.

The President pointed out that the three out of five Khel Ratna awardees were women, something that makes his proudly that the country is on the right track. 

He also said that the coronavirus pandemic has disrupted sporting activities across India and added that the Tokyo Olympics were also forced to be postponement.

National Sports Day is celebrated on August 29 to commemorate the birth anniversary of hockey legend Dhyan Chand Singh.

Here's all you need to know about the importance about the day.

Best wishes on #NationalSportsDay ! 🇮🇳🎊

Remembering 'the wizard of hockey' Maj #Dhyanchand on his birth anniversary. 🙏 Let's reaffirm our pledge to take our beloved country to new heights in sports & realise the vision #FitIndia seen by PM Shri @narendramodi ji.@KirenRijiju pic.twitter.com/V7dvJt39gh

— Dept of Sports MYAS (@IndiaSports) August 29, 2020

The prize money for the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award has been increased to Rs 25 lakh from the previous amount of Rs 7.5 lakh; Arjuna Award has been enhanced to Rs 15 lakh from Rs 5 lakh.

The Tenzing Norgay National Adventure Awards being presented to Col. Sarfraz Singh, Taka Tamut, Late Maagan Bissa (His wife Sushma Bissa accepted on his husband's behalf), Asnita Devi, Keval Hiren Kakka and Satendra Singh.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday paid rich tribute to legendary sportsperson Major Dhyan Chand on the occasion of his 115th birth anniversary.

The Dhyan Chand Award being presented to Kuldip Singh Bhullar (Athletics), Jincy Philips (Athletics), Pradeep Shrikrishna Gandhe (Badminton), Trupti Murgunde (Badminton), N. Usha (Boxing), Lakha Singh (Boxing), Sukhvinder Singh Sandhu (Football), Ajit Singh (Hockey), Manpreet Singh (Kabaddi), J. Ranjith Kumar (Para Athletics), Satyaprakash Tiwari (Para Badminton), Manjeet Singh (Rowing), Late Shri Sachin Nag (Swimming), Nandan P Bal (Tennis), Netarpal Hooda (Wrestling).

The Arjuna Award being presented to Sawant Ajay Anant (Equestrian), Sandesh Jhingan (Football), Aditi Ashok (Golf), Akashdeep Singh (Hockey), Deepika (Hockey), Deepak (Kabaddi), Kale Sarika Sudhakar (Kho Kho), Shiva Keshavan (Winter Sports), Divya Kakran (Wrestling), Rahul Aware (Wrestling), Suyash Narayan Jadhav (Para Swimming), Sandeep Para (Athletics) Manish Narwal (Para Shooting).

The Arjuna Award being presented to Dattu Baban Bhokanal (Rowing), Manu Bhaker (Shooting), Saurabh Chaudhary (Shooting), Madhurika Suhas Patkar (Table Tennis), Divij Sharan (Tennis), 

The Arjuna Award being presented to Atanu Das (Archery), Dutee Chand (Athletics), Chirag Chandrasekhar Shetty (Badminton), Vishesh Bhriguvanshi (Basketball), Subedar Manish Kaushik (Boxing), Lovlina Borgohain (Boxing), Ishant Sharma (Cricket), Deepti Sharma (Cricket).

Dronacharya Award  in Lifetime category to Dharmendra Tiwary (Archery), Purushotham Rai (Athletics), Shiv Singh (Boxing), Romesh Pathania (Hockey), Krishan Kumar Hooda (Kabaddi), Vijay Bhalchandra Munishwar (Para Powerlifting), Naresh Kumar (Tennis), Om Parkash Dahiya (Wrestling). 

The Khel Ratna Award being presented to Mariyappan T. for Para Athletics, Rani for Hockey and Manika Batra for Table Tennis. 

The National Sports Awards is underway with Honourable President Ram Nath Kovind.

The Sports Minister Kiren Rijiju says that this is the first award ceremony to be held in the time of coronavirus pandemic in India.

Sanitization procedures have been followed keeping coronavirus pandemic in mind.  

Strict Covid19 protocols are being maintained by our athletes as they make their way to the virtual #NationalSportsAwards.@KirenRijiju @DGSAI @RijijuOffice @PIB_India @PMOIndia @IndiaSports @YASMinistry @mygovindia @WeAreTeamIndia @ddsportschannel @AkashvaniAIR pic.twitter.com/rNZ6Tpvfz9

— SAIMedia (@Media_SAI) August 29, 2020

The National Sports Awards is about to begin and we are waiting for Honourable President Ram Nath Kovind.

On August 29, which is celebrated as National Sports Day, News18.com remembers India's greatest moments in sports.

The Dronacharya Award goes to the coaches for producing medal winners at prestigious international sports events.

Awardees this year: 

Lifetime category: Dharmendra Tiwary (Archery), Purushotham Rai (Athletics), Shiv Singh (Boxing), Romesh Pathania (Hockey), Krishan Kumar Hooda (Kabaddi), Vijay Bhalchandra Munishwar (Para Powerlifting), Naresh Kumar (Tennis), Om Parkash Dahiya (Wrestling).

Regular category: Jude Felix Sebastian (Hockey), Yogesh Malviya (Mallakhamb), Jaspal Rana (Shooting), Kuldeep Kumar Handoo (Wushu), Gaurav Khanna (Para Badminton)

Sports Minister Kiren Rijiju started National Sports Day by paying tribute to the statue of Major Dhyan Chand. 

Sports Minister @KirenRijiju marked the beginning of National Sports Day by paying floral tributes to the statue of Major Dhyan Chand. He will attend the virtual National Sports Awards ceremony from 11am. Catch the event live on @DDNational pic.twitter.com/CXyMvNENpG

— Kiren Rijiju Office (@RijijuOffice) August 29, 2020

On National Sports Day, here is a look at India's history in its major Olympics sports and it's current standings.

Arjuna Award is given for consistent outstanding performance for four years.

Awardees this year: 

Atanu Das (Archery), Dutee Chand (Athletics), Satwik Sairaj Rankireddy (Badminton), Chirag Chandrasekhar Shetty (Badminton), Vishesh Bhriguvanshi (Basketball), Subedar Manish Kaushik (Boxing), Lovlina Borgohain (Boxing), Ishant Sharma (Cricket), Deepti Sharma (Cricket), Sawant Ajay Anant (Equestrian), Sandesh Jhingan (Football), Aditi Ashok (Golf), Akashdeep Singh (Hockey), Deepika (Hockey), Deepak (Kabaddi), Kale Sarika Sudhakar (Kho Kho), Dattu Baban Bhokanal (Rowing), Manu Bhaker (Shooting), Saurabh Chaudhary (Shooting), Madhurika Suhas Patkar (Table Tennis), Divij Sharan (Tennis), Shiva Keshavan (Winter Sports), Divya Kakran (Wrestling), Rahul Aware (Wrestling), Suyash Narayan Jadhav (Para Swimming), Sandeep Para (Athletics) Manish Narwal (Para Shooting)

Wrestler Vinesh Phogat and badminton star Satwiksairaj Rankireddy, are among the three, who will miss the award ceremony after testing positive for Covid-19. 

The Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award is given for the spectacular and outstanding performance in the field of sports by a sportsperson over a period of four years preceding the award.

Awardees this year: 

Rohit Sharma (Cricket), Mariyappan T. (Para Athletics), , Manika Batra (Table Tennis), Vinesh (Wrestling), Rani (Hockey)

The first National Sports and Adventure Award 2020 is being conducted virtually for the first time in history due to the coronavirus as 65 awardees will be honoured by the Hon'ble President of India Ram Nath Kovind.