arjuna award

India’s Table Tennis icon Sharath Kamal to retire after WTT star contender in Chennai

Five-time Olympian and India’s one of the most decorated table tennis player, Achanta Sharath Kamal, has announced his retirement from the sport. The upcoming WTT Star Contender in Chennai will mark the end of his illustrious career, making it his final appearance in India colours. At 42, Sharath Kamal leaves behind a legacy as a 10-time national champion and the country’s top-ranked men’s singles player, currently placed 42nd in the WTT rankings. Reflecting on his career, Sharath said d...

January 2, 2025 4:50 PM

Murlikant Petkar to receive Arjuna award for lifetime achievement, 52 years after winning India’s first Paralympic gold

The sports ministry on Thursday announced that Murlikant Rajaram Petkar, India’s first Paralympic gold medalist, will receive the Arjuna Award (Lifetime) 52 years after his achievement. A soldier in the Corps of Electronics and Mechanical Engineers (EME) of the Indian Army, Petkar suffered a debilitating injury that left him paraplegic. Despite this, he won the gold medal in the men’s 50m freestyle swimming event at the 1972 Paralympic Games in Heidelberg, becoming the first Indian to secur...