For the selection of National Sports Award winners, a twelve-member committee constituted by the Sports Ministry will meet here on August 17 and 18 to select the winners. The meeting will be held at the Sports Authority of India (Sai) headquarters, in which members will be privately involved.

Former Indian cricketer Virender Sehwag, veteran hockey player Sardar Singh, Paralympic silver medal winner Deepa Malik, former table tennis player Monalisa Barua Mehta, boxer Venkatesan Devarajan, besides journalists Alok Sinha and Neeru Bhatia will also be members of the committee, headed by retired Supreme Court Justice Mukundakam Sharma. Along with this, the sports ministry will be represented in the committee, which will have Sports Authority of India (Sai) Director General Sandeep Pradhan, Joint Secretary (Sports Development) LS Singh and Target Olympic Podium Scheme CEO Rajesh Rajagopalan.

While considering the nomination of Dronacharya Awards, the Chairman can invite 2 additional members, who will be the Dronacharya Award Winners. The source of the sports ministry told the media about this time, 'The meeting is finally being held on August 17 and 18. Though it has not been decided yet whether or not the ceremony will take place in Rashtrapati Bhavan on August 29, the awardees of this year will be announced on time.' Like the previous year, this year also a single selection committee has been formed to select the award winners among the players and coaches. The National Sports Awards including Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna, Arjuna Award, Dronacharya Award and Dhyanchand Award are presented by the President of the country every year on 29 August at Rashtrapati Bhavan.

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