Indian batsmen Rohit Sharma and Ajinkya Rahane were conferred with the Arjuna Award for 2015 and 2016 respectively by Sports Minister Vijay Goel, at a function held at Jawahar Lal Stadium in Delhi.
Both are part of the Test squad for the upcoming Test series against New Zealand which begins on September 22. The two were unable to receive the awards by the President earlier due to their international cricket commitments.
The Arjuna awards are given by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, and carry a cash prize of Rs. 5,00,000, a bronze statue of Arjuna and a scroll.
While speaking about the importance of sports in the country, Goel said that cricket is among the most popular games in India, and under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the government is committed to promote indigenous and other sports. He also had words of praise for the athletes at the Rio Paralympics, and said that they had made every Indian proud.
Rohit Sharma is one of the stars of the limited overs format, and is the only cricketer to have two double centuries to his name in ODIs. He also holds the record for the highest score in one-dayers, with 264 against Sri Lanka being his best.
Rahane, on the other hand, has established himself as one of the most dependable batsmen in the Indian batting line-up, scoring runs in all formats and playing the role of an anchor in the middle order.
Rohit Sharma made his debut for India in 2007. Rahane played his first match for the national side in 2011.
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