Hockey stars Dharamvir, Manpreet, Savita recommended for Arjuna
New Delhi, May 3: Experienced midfielder Dharamvir Singh, Manpreet Singh and Indian womens team goalkeeper Savita have been recommended for the Arjuna Award while Sanggai Ibemhal Chanu and former mens captain Bharat Chetri have been recommended for the Dhyan Chand Award for Lifetime Achievement, Hockey India announced on Thursday
Commenting on the recommendations, Mohd Mushtaque Ahmad, Secretary General of Hockey India, said: "We are happy to endorse these hockey players who have immensely contributed to Indian hockey.
"They have proven their worth with significant performances that has elevated the Indian team to new heights. They have donned the India colours with pride and have given it their all to help the team win several accolades within the country and internationally.
"We at Hockey India are proud of their achievements and are happy to recommend their names for the National awards," he added.
Dharamvir Singh from Punjab formed the midfield in the Indian team and was part of the Gold Medal feat at the 2014 Asian Games in Incheon, South Korea.
Manpreet Singh captained the Indian squad in the absence of P.R. Sreejesh who was injured last year.
Manpreet was part of the Asia Cup success where India beat Malaysia to lift the title. He also led the Indian Team to a bronze medal at the Odisha Men's Hockey World League Final Bhubaneswar 2017.
Indian women goalkeeper Savita has been a trusted guard in the Indian post over the past few years.
The 27-year-old from Haryana was instrumental in India's historic Asia Cup win last year where she made a stunning save in the penalty shootout that helped India beat higher ranked China in the Final.
Her performance was critical in helping India qualify for the World Cup as Continental Champions after a gap of 13 years.
Former India player Sanggai Ibemhal Chanu, recommended for the Lifetime Achievement Award, was part of the women's team that won the 2002 Commonwealth Games Gold in Manchester followed by a Silver Medal in 2006 in Melbourne.
She also significantly contributed to the team's success at the 2014 Asia Cup here where the team lifted the trophy in front of a home crowd.
Retired senior hockey coach B.S. Chauhan, recommended for the Dronacharya Award, has long served hockey as coach at the Sports Authority of India, Bengaluru.
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Maharashtra Congress chief Patole meets Kharge, dismisses resignation talk as 'rumours'
New Delhi, Nov 25: Maharashtra Congress chief Nana Patole on Monday dismissed as "rumours" talk of his resignation following the assembly polls debacle and stressed on "collective accountability" for the defeat.
Patole made the remarks after meeting Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge during which he conveyed that the result had not reflected the sentiments of the people of Maharashtra.
"Mallikarjun Kharge, Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi and other national and state leaders were leading Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) from the forefront during the assembly polls. So, we were sure that the trends were in favour of Maha Vikas Aghadi, even the citizens believed that," the Maharashtra Congress chief said.
"If I talk about Nanded, the Lok Sabha bypolls and assembly elections were held on the same day. In Lok Sabha bypolls, our candidate was winning in six assembly seats, whereas, in the assembly elections, we are not winning even a single seat," he said, adding that there cannot be such a "huge difference".
This is the sentiment among the people also and they have stated that this government in Maharashtra was not being formed on their votes, he claimed.
"So, I spoke to Mallikarjun Kharge on this," he added.
Asked whether he had offered to resign or the party had asked for his resignation after the Maharashtra assembly polls defeat, Patole said, "These are all rumours and there is no truth in them. There is collective accountability."
Patole also said he will meet Rahul Gandhi in a day or two and discuss all issues.
"Democracy is being finished. We have discussed that... there was no talk of resignation," he said.
The MVA alliance, comprising the Congress, NCP (Sharadchandra Pawar) and Shiv Sena (UBT), was restrained to 46 seats by the Mahayuti that reaped a rich harvest of 230 seats in the 288-member House.
