The year 2023 was a remarkable one for Indian sports, as many athletes achieved great feats and brought laurels to the country. Among them, three players stood out and were honored with the prestigious sports awards of 2023. They are:
- Mohammed Shami, the fast bowler who won the Arjuna Award for his outstanding performance in cricket.
- Chirag Chandrashekhar Shetty and Rankireddy Satwik Sai Raj, the badminton duo who won the Khel Ratna Award for their historic gold medal at the World Championships.
Mohammed Shami: The Arjuna Award Winner
Mohammed Shami is one of the best fast bowlers in the world, who has been consistently delivering match-winning performances for India in all formats of the game. He has been a key member of the Indian pace attack and has taken 205 wickets in 63 Tests, 148 wickets in 82 ODIs, and 16 wickets in 14 T20Is1.
Shami has also been instrumental in India’s historic Test series wins in Australia in 2021 and 2023, where he took 16 and 18 wickets respectively. He also played a vital role in India’s maiden World Test Championship title in 2023, where he took 13 wickets in four matches, including a five-wicket haul in the final against New Zealand.
Shami was awarded the Arjuna Award for his excellence in cricket, which is given to recognize outstanding achievement in sports by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports. He is the 27th cricketer to receive this honor, and the first since Jasprit Bumrah in 2020.
Chirag Chandrashekhar Shetty and Rankireddy Satwik Sai Raj: The Khel Ratna Award Winners
Chirag Chandrashekhar Shetty and Rankireddy Satwik Sai Raj are the rising stars of Indian badminton, who have made history by becoming the first Indian pair to win a gold medal at the World Championships in 2023. They defeated the top-seeded Chinese pair of Li Junhui and Liu Yuchen in a thrilling three-game final, 21-19, 18-21, 21-18.
The duo also won the silver medal at the Asian Games in 2022, and the bronze medal at the Commonwealth Games in 2022. They are currently ranked No. 3 in the world and are considered as one of the best pairs in the men’s doubles category.
They were conferred the Khel Ratna Award, which is the highest sporting honor in India, by the President of India. They are the first badminton players to receive this award and the second doubles pair after Leander Paes and Mahesh Bhupathi in 1999.
Conclusion
Mohammed Shami, Chirag Chandrashekhar Shetty, and Rankireddy Satwik Sai Raj are the pride of Indian sports, who have shown their excellence and dedication in their respective fields. They have inspired millions of Indians with their achievements, and have set new benchmarks for the future generations. They deserve all the accolades and recognition for their splendid performances in 2023. We congratulate them on their well-deserved awards and wish them more success in the coming years.
