President Pranab Mukherjee on Monday conferred the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna awards to badminton player and silver medallist at the Rio Olympics PV Sindhu, bronze medallist wrestler Sakshi Malik, gymnast Dipa Karmakar and shooter Jitu Rai during National Sports Day celebrations at the Rashtrapati Bhavan. Rai finished eighth in the 10-metre air pistol event, while Karmakar secured fourth place in the women's vault event.

The Arjuna awards were conferred on long-distance runner Lalita Babar, who qualified for the final of the women's 300 metre steeplechase at the Olympics, Indian footballer Subrata Pal, hockey player VR Raghunath and wrestler Vinesh Phogat.

Bisheswar Nandi, Raj Kumar Sharma and Mahavir Singh Phogat received the Dronacharya awards. Nandi is Karmakar's long-time coach, while Raj Kumar Sharma trains Indian cricketers Virat Kohli and Ishant Sharma. Phogat coaches Indian wrestlers Geeta Phogat and Babita Kumari, who have won medals at several international wrestling events.