P T Usha heads selection panel for Khel Ratna, Arjuna awards

The 17-member panel to select the winners of the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna, Arjuna and Dhyanchand Awards also includes tennis veteran Leander Paes and Olympic bronze medallist weightlifter Karnam Malleswari.

The committee will also select the Rashtriya Khel Protsahan Puruskar for the year 2010.
The Dronacharya awardees for this year would be picked by a panel headed by hockey legend Ashok Kumar. The panel also has shooting star Anjali Bhagwat and national squash coach Cyrus Poncha.

The Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award, which was given jointly to the trio of Olympic bronze medallist boxer Vijender Singh, wrestler Sushil Kumar and four-time world champion woman pugilist M C Mary Kom last year, would be given to only one athlete from this year.
The award consists of a cash amount of Rs 7.5 lakh, a scroll of honour and a medal.

The Arjuna award consists of a statuette, a scroll of honour, ceremonial dress and a cash award of Rs 5 lakh.
The Dhyanchand award comprises of a plaque, a scroll of honour, ceremonial dress and a cash award of Rs 5 lakh.

Rastriya Khel Protsahan Puruskar, instituted last year , has four categories -- community sports development, promotion of sports academies of excellence, support to elite sportspersons and academies of excellence, support to elite sportspersons and employment to sportspersons. The award carries a trophy and citation.
As for the Dronacharya award, ordinarily not more than five are given in any calendar year. The award comprises a plaque, a scroll of honour, ceremonial dress, and cash prize of Rs 5 lakh.

The Selection Committee for National Sports Awards: P T Usha (Athletics, Chairperson), Aparna Popat (Badminton), Maneypandu Somaya (Hockey), Nisha Millet (Swimming), Leander Paes (Tennis), Karnam Malleshwari (Weightlifting), Limba Ram (Archery), Adhiraj Singh (Equestrian), Mohd Habib (Football), Sriram Bhavasar (Kabaddi), Pradip Singh, S G Baruah, Sayan Chatterjee, Injeti Srinivas, Rahul Bhatnagar, Pravir Krishn and Deepika Kachhal.

The Selection Committee for Dronacharya Awards: Ashok Kumar (Hockey), Vandana Rao (Athletics), Rajendra Prasad (Boxing), Mohammed Zulfiqaruddin (Football), Anjali Bhagwat (Shooting), Manjit Dua (Table Tennis), Gurcharan Singh (Cricket), Ismail Baig (Rowing), GE Sreedharan (Volleyball), Cyrus Poncha (Squash), Jhanjha Tripathi, U K S Chauhan, Sayan Chatterjee, Injeti Srinivas, Rahul Bhatnagar, Pravir Krishn, Deepika Kachhal.