Ravi Rathore VSM | |
---|---|
Allegiance | India |
Service/ | Indian Army |
Rank | Colonel |
Unit | 61 Cavalry |
Commands held | 61 Cavalry |
Awards | Arjuna Award, VSM, Maharana Pratap Award |
Spouse(s) | Dipti Rathore |
Ravi Rathore is an Indian polo player and an Arjuna Awardee. He is a Colonel and Commandant of the 61st Cavalry Regiment of the Indian Army, and also holds the appointment of Honorary secretary of the Indian Polo Association (IPA). Ravi Rathore is also the highest handicapped polo player in the Indian Army. [1] He has been an integral part of the Indian Polo team for five consecutive World cup championships and won two golds in 2011 and 2017.
President of India Ram Nath Kovind conferred the prestigious Arjuna Award upon Colonel Ravi Rathore for his outstanding achievements in Polo in 2018. [2] [3] [4]
The Arjuna Award, officially known as Arjuna Awards given for Outstanding Performance in Sports and Games, is the second-highest sporting honour of India, the highest being the Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award. The award is named after Arjuna, one of the characters of the Sanskrit epic Mahabharata of ancient India. In Hinduism, he has been seen as a symbol of hard work, dedication and concentration. It is awarded annually by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports. Before the introduction of the Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna in 1991–1992, the Arjuna award was the highest sporting honour of India. The nominations for the award are received from all government recognised National Sports Federations, the Indian Olympic Association, the Sports Authority of India (SAI), the Sports Promotion and Control Boards, the state and the union territory governments and the Major Dhyan Chandra Khel Ratna, Arjuna, Dhyan Chand and Dronacharya awardees of the previous years. The recipients are selected by a committee constituted by the Ministry and are honoured for their "good performance in the field of sports over a period of four years" at the international level and for having shown "qualities of leadership, sportsmanship and a sense of discipline." As of 2020, the award comprises "a bronze statuette of Arjuna, certificate, ceremonial dress, and a cash prize of ₹15 lakh (US$18,000)."
Colonel Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore,, is an Indian politician, Olympic medallist in shooting and retired colonel in the Indian Army. He is serving as a cabinet minister at the Industry & Commerce, Youth Affairs & Sports Department in the Government of Rajasthan since December 2023. Rathore was a Member of Parliament in the Lok Sabha from Jaipur Rural seat since 2014 till 2023.
Pullela Gopichand is an Indian former badminton player. Currently, he is the Chief National Coach for the India national badminton team. He won the All England Open Badminton Championships in 2001, becoming the second Indian to achieve this feat after Prakash Padukone. He runs the Gopichand Badminton Academy. He received the Arjuna Award in 1999, the Khel Ratna Award in 2001, the Dronacharya Award in 2009 and the Padma Bhushan – India's third highest civilian award – in 2014. He is the only Indian coach to win the "Honorable Mention" by the International Olympic Committee at the 2019 Coaches Lifetime Achievement Awards.
The Khel Ratna Award, officially known as the Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award or formerly known as the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award, is the highest sporting honour of India. It is awarded annually by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, Government of India.
The Dronacharya Award, officially known as Dronacharya Award for Outstanding Coaches in Sports and Games, is sports coaching honour of the Republic of India. The award is named after Drona, often referred as "Dronacharya" or "Guru Drona", a character from the Sanskrit epic Mahabharata of ancient India. He was master of advanced military warfare and was appointed as the royal preceptor to the Kaurava and the Pandava princes for their training in military arts and astras. It is awarded annually by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports. Recipients are selected by a committee constituted by the Ministry and are honoured to have done "outstanding and meritorious work on a consistent basis and enabled sportspersons to excel in international events" over a period of four years. Two awards are designated for the lifetime contribution in coaching where the achievements in producing "outstanding sportspersons" over a period of 20 years or more are considered. As of 2020, the award comprises a bronze statuette of Dronacharya, a certificate, ceremonial dress, and a cash prize of ₹15 lakh (US$18,000).
Rao Raja Hanut Singh was a British Indian Army soldier and polo player.
Kuldeep Singh Garcha is a notable former polo player of India. He had handicap of five goals and captained and coached the Indian polo team for several years. He was awarded "Arjuna Award" for achieving excellence in sports.
India has a history of sports dating back to the Vedic period. Cricket is the most popular spectator sport; it generates the highest television viewership, with the Indian Premier League (IPL) being the most-followed league in the country. Football has also gained popularity, with the Indian Super League (ISL) being the highest level of domestic football, and the national team winning multiple gold medals at the Asian and South Asian Games. Additional football accomplishments include India having reached the Groupstage of the 1960 Olympics, qualified for the 1950 FIFA World Cup, and won the SAFF Championship. Other sports include kabaddi, badminton, tennis, and athletics, with kho-kho becoming the fourth-most viewed sport. India has also had success in field hockey, winning the World Cup and multiple medals in the Olympic Games. Sports such as golf, rugby, boxing, kickboxing, mixed martial arts, motorsport, wrestling, and basketball are featured throughout the country.
Col. Maharaj Prem Singh (1915–2000) was an Indian polo player born in a polo-playing family on 15 November 1915. His grandfather, Maharaj Bhopal Singh was an excellent horseman while his grand uncle Sir Pratap Singh of Idar was a renowned polo player. Maharaj Prem received most of his training from his father, Maharaj Kishen Singh, who himself was an excellent player and had received training from the famous Major-General Delisle.
The Major Dhyan Chand Award, officially known as Major Dhyan Chand Award for Lifetime Achievement in Sports and Games, is the lifetime achievement sporting honour of the Republic of India. The award is named after hockey wizard Major Dhyan Chand (1905–79), a legendary Indian field hockey player who scored more than 1000 international goals during a career which spanned over 20 years from 1926 to 1948. It is awarded annually by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports. Recipients are selected by a committee constituted by the Ministry and are honoured for their contributions to sport both during their active sporting career and after retirement. As of 2020, the award comprises a statuette, a certificate, ceremonial dress, and a cash prize of ₹10 lakh (US$12,000).
Rahul Banerjee is an Indian Olympian and Arjuna Awardee archer.
The 61st Cavalry Regiment is a horse-mounted cavalry regiment of the Indian Army. It is notable for being one of the largest, and also one of the last, operational non mechanised horse-mounted cavalry units in the world. Formerly deployed into active conflict, the 61st Cavalry is currently employed on ceremonial occasions, though it can be deployed for internal security or provide military aid to the civil power.
Ruchi Trikha is an Indian epée fencing player. In July 2017, she was noted as the top women fencer in the Punjab region of India. Trikha competed at the Asian Games 2006. She was the first Indian to win two bronze medals at the Commonwealth Fencing Championship in 2006. Trikha won an individual gold medal and team gold medal at the 12th Thailand Open Asian Fencing Championship. She was coached by Arun Kumar Vij, secretary-general of the Fencing Association of India.
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