Selection Committee for National Sports Awards 2020 constituted

The Union Ministry of Sports and Youth Affairs has announced the constitution of the committee for selection of the recipients of the National Sports Awards 2020. The 12-member committee has been mandated a single committee to pick up the awardees for both athletes and coaches.

Constitution of the Committee

The government has included former India cricketer Virender Sehwag, hockey stalwart Sardar Singh and Paralympic silver-medalist Deepa Malik in the committee. It is headed by Retired Supreme Court Justice, Mukundakam Sharma. The other members of the committee include former table tennis player Monalisa Baruah  Mehta, boxer V Devarajan, sports commentator Manish Batavia and journalists Alok Sinha and Neeru Bhatia. It also has representation from the Sports Ministry, Sports Authority of India, etc. Apart from these, two additional members who have been Dronacharya Awardees might be invited to decide the awardee for the Dronacharya Award.

Why a single committee?

The government has decided to maintain only one selection committee for the awardees just like last year since too many committees are likely to create conflicts and also a messy situation. So, to keep things under control, one committee has been constituted this year also.

National Sports Award 2020

It is given every year on August 29 which is the birthday of the hockey icon Dhyan Chand. However, this year it may get delayed due to the deadly COVID 19 pandemic.

Month: Current Affairs - July, 2020