Arjuna for Nikhat, Sreeja, Prannoy

Seasoned Campaigner Sharath Kamal To Receive Khel Ratna

Hyderabad: Two top women sportspersons from the city _ world champion boxer Nikhat Zareen, reigning national champion paddler Sreeja Akula _ have been awarded the country’s prestigious Arjuna award along with top shuttler H S Prannoy, who trains at the Gopichand Badminton Academy in Gachibowli, by the Union government in New Delhi on Monday,

Twenty-six-year-old Nikhat Zareen had won her maiden World championship title in Istanbul in May this year, defeating Thailand’s Jutamas Jitpong 5-0 in the 52 kg final.

While Sreeja Akula, who represents RBI, won her maiden National crown downing five-time champion Mouma Das of PSPB 8-11, 1311, 12-10, 11-8, 11-6 in Haryana in April this year. Sreeja had also won the Commonwealth Games mixed doubles gold medal along with veteran Achanta Sharath Kamal to win the title in England earlier this year.