President Draupadi Murmu honoured 26-best-performing athletes and para athlete with Arjuna awards while coaches were conferred with Dronachary awards.
The Sports Ministry is currently accepting nominations from various national sports federations for the National Sports Awards.
The process, which usually starts in April, has been delayed due to the pandemic.
The award ceremony is held every year on 29 August- the occasion of National Sports Day- a day celebrated to mark the birth anniversary of Indian hockey legend Major Dhyan Chand.
There can't be a foolproof system, but it can minimize the problems by tightening the criteria.
Indian para-athlete Devendra Jhajharia and hockey wizard Sardar Singh will receive the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna award.
