Virender Sehwag, PT Usha included in commitee to pick up Khel Ratna, Arjuna awardees

New Delhi: Former Indian opener Virender Sehwag and former sprint queen PT Usha have been named in the 12-member committee to pick this year's Khel Ratna and Arjuna awardees.

The committee, headed by Justice (retd) C K Thakkar, will meet on August 3 to select this year's awardees.

The other members of the committee are Mukund Killekar (boxing), Sunil Dabbas (Kabaddi), M R Mishra (Journalist), S Kannan (Journalist), Sanjeev Kumar (Journalist), Latha Madhvi (Para athlete), Anil Khanna (sports administrator), Injeti Srinivas (DG, SAI) and Rajvir Singh (joint Secretary, Sports Ministry).

Meanwhile, former shuttler and current national badminton coach Pullela Gopichand and ace Indian cueist Pankaj Advani have been named in committee to pick Dronacharya and Dhyan Chand awardees.

The Arjuna Awards are given by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, government of India to recognize outstanding achievement in National sports. Instituted in 1961, the award carries a cash prize of Rs. 5,00,000, a bronze statue of Arjuna and a scroll.