July 22: Sprint legend P.T. Usha was on Thursday named chairperson of the selection committee for this year’s National Sports Awards, while hockey icon Ashok Kumar was appointed head of the panel to pick the Dronacharya awardees.
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 boxer Vijender Singh, wrestler Sushil Kumar and 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 a plaque, a scroll of honour, ceremonial dress and a cash award of Rs 5 lakh.