Sindhu, Sakshi, Jitu Rai, Dipa to get Khel Ratna today

TIL Desk Sports/ Olympics silver medallist PV Sindhu, bronze winner Sakshi Malik, ace shooter Jitu Rai and trailblazing gymnast Dipa Karmakar will be conferred with the prestigious Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award by President Pranab Mukherjee in New Delhi today.

Sindhu scripted history by winning the silver in women’s singles badminton while Sakshi took the bronze in women’s 58kg freestyle category at the Rio Games.  In a first in Indian sports, Dipa finished fourth in artistic gymnastics at Rio. While Jitu has won over half a dozen medals in the past two years. On Sunday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi hosted the National Sports awardees at his 7 Race Course Road residence.

Talking about her Olympic glory, Sindhu said, “It is great feeling to have won an Olympic medal. It was my dream and it has come true. I am very happy. I am thankful to everybody, Gopi sir, my parents. I am really thankful to the Government as they have been very supportive and also to the sponsors.”  Asked if the feeling of winning an Olympic medal has sunk in, Sakshi said: “I couldn’t believe it when I was in Rio. But now it has started to sink in. I am getting a lot of love and everyone has made me feel very special.”