Hockey star Hardik Singh lone recommendation for Khel Ratna; Divya, TJ & Mehuli for Arjuna
The Mission Olympic Cell is also considering higher incentives for retired Olympians and world-class players who want to take up coaching, in an effort to retain top talent within India.
Bhupinder Singh Bajwa will be the chairman of the panel with hockey Olympian M M Somaya and former international shuttler Manjusha Kanwar being the other two members.
The ad-hoc panel announced that it will host the senior national championships in Jaipur from February 2-5.
The deadline to file nomination papers for the IOA elections ends on Sunday. According to IOA elections returning officer Umesh Sinha no nomination has been filed for any post so far since the process began on Friday.
PT Usha set to get elected as IOA chief, first woman occupant of top job
'The feeling that we were Olympic champions only dawned on us when we reached India.'
The Joaquim Carvalho-led group, barring fellow-Olympian Gurbux Singh Grewal, swept the Mumbai Hockey Association polls that were held after five years. Carvalho and his band, that included 1984 Los Angeles Games teammate and former India skipper M M Somaya, won 13 out of the 14 posts contested for at Monday's much-hyped elections.
Former captain M M Somaya says the Indian team also needs players with leadership qualifies like Dilip Tirkey.
'He did not take a loss lying down.' 'He inspired us to go to the next tournament with renewed confidence and helped us perform well.' 'That's the way I would remember him.'
'Indian hockey will lose out on one of its most important nurseries of good hockey talent.'
Hockey greats Vasudevan Baskaran, M M Somaya and Mervyn Fernandis relive India's gold medal-winning campaign at the Moscow Olympics in 1980.
© 2026 Rediff.com - Investor Information - Advertise with us - Disclaimer - Privacy Policy - Sitemap - Feedback - About us - Terms of use - Grievances