The Swimming Federation of India (SFI) has nominated Sajan Prakash for the prestigious Arjuna award. He is the first Indian swimmer to achieve a direct qualification for the Olympics.
For his career achievements in aquatic sports, experienced coach Kamlesh Nanavati has been nominated for the Dhyan Chand Award by the SFI.
While Tapan Panigrahi has been nominated for the Dhronacharya Award (lifetime category) for his role in the development of several national and international champions in both para and able-bodied swimming.
Prakash, who will compete in his second Olympics in Tokyo, has been recommended for the Arjuna Award for the second year in a row.
Last week, the 27-year-old from Kerala made history by breaking the ‘A’ standard time for the Tokyo Olympics in the men’s 200m butterfly event at the Sette Colli Trophy in Rome, Italy, clocking 1:56:38 seconds.
Sajan Prakash has broken the glass ceiling in Indian swimming by qualifying for Tokyo 2020 in the 200 metre butterfly event. He is the first Indian to do so.
“His achievement will inspire many more swimmers in time to come. We believe this achievement will place Sajan Prakash’s nomination for the Arjuna Award at the forefront amongst equals,” SFI Secretary-General, Monal Chokshi said in a media release.
Nanavati competed in many international water polo tournaments for India and then worked as a swimming instructor.
He has produced countless national medalists and record holders throughout the course of his four-decade career. He’s also earned a name for himself as a “Director of Competitions” at national and international meets, and he’s remained on FINA’s Waterpolo technical committee.
