Bhopal (Madhya Pradesh): Madhya Pradesh Government announced Shikhar Khel Puraskar for 2023 on Thursday. A total of 26 players and coaches have been selected for Vikram, Eklavya and Vishwamitra awards. Ratanlal Verma has been selected for Lifetime Achievement Award for the year 2023 for his significant contribution in gymnastics, Ujjain.

Pijush Kanti Baroi (Kayaking-Canoeing) from Bhopal, Ashok Kumar Yadav (Archery) from Jabalpur and Lokendra Sharma (Hockey) from Bhopal have been selected for Vishwamitra Award for 2023.

Vikram Award is given to 12 senior players, of which 6 are given in individual category, 3 in team category, 1 award in handicapped category and 1 award in traditional sports (except sports not played in Olympics, Asian Games and National Games) and 1 award in adventure sports.

Vikram awardees include Aishwarya Pratap Singh Tomar (Shooting), Khargone, Jahnvi Srivastava (Kayaking-Canoeing), Bhopal, Ragini Marko (Archery), Jabalpur, Shivani Pawar (Wrestling), Chhindwara, Shruti Yadav (Boxing), Bhopal, Yamini Maurya, (Judo), Sagar, Sachin Bhargo (Kho-Kho), Dewas, Neelu Dandiya (Hockey), Mandsaur, Praveen Kumar Dave.

(Softball), Indore, Rubina Francis (Shooting), Jabalpur, Apurv Dubey (Powerlifting), Indore and Bhavna Dehariya (Mount Everest), Chhindwara.

Eklavya Award is given to 11 junior players, in individual, team, Divyang, traditional sports, adventure sports categories to players who have performed excellently.

The Eklavya awardees include Rituraj Bundela (Shooting), Tikamgarh, Bhoomi Baghel (Kayaking-Canoeing), Maheshwar, Krishna Mishra (Squash), Indore, Puja Dangi (Fencing), Rajgarh, Prabhakar Singh Rajawat (Rowing), Gwalior, Neha Thakur (Sailing), Dewas, Prakhar Joshi (Swimming), Indore, Arjun Vaskale (Athletics), Khargone, Priyanshi Prajapat (Wrestling), Ujjain, Ankit Pal (Hockey), Gwalior and Gaurav Pachauri (Powerlifting), Morena.