Arjuna Award 2026: Union Minister Prataprao Jadhav Recommends Olympic Medallist Mirabai Chanu for Prestigious Honour
Mumbai: Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Ayush and Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare, Prataprao Ganpatrao Jadhav, has formally recommended Olympic medallist weightlifter Mirabai Chanu for the Arjuna Award, urging Union Sports Minister Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya to consider her candidature for one of India’s most prestigious sporting honours.
In a letter addressed to the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, Jadhav praised Chanu’s remarkable achievements on the international stage and described her as one of India’s finest sporting icons. He emphasized her consistent performances in global competitions and her contribution to raising India’s profile in the sport of weightlifting.
The minister highlighted Chanu’s historic success at the Commonwealth Games, where she won multiple gold medals and became the first Indian athlete to secure a gold medal for the country at successive editions of the event. He also noted her outstanding performances in the women’s 48 kg weightlifting category, where she set records in the snatch, clean and jerk, and total lift categories.
Jadhav pointed out that while Chanu has already been honoured with some of India’s highest civilian and sporting awards, including the Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna and the Padma Shri, she is yet to receive the Arjuna Award. According to the minister, the recognition holds special significance for the Manipuri athlete, who reportedly dreamt of winning the award from the early days of her training journey.
The recommendation comes as Chanu continues to be regarded as one of India’s most successful weightlifters, having won an Olympic medal and several international titles during her career. Her achievements have made her a role model for aspiring athletes, particularly in the Northeast region and across the country.
Jadhav stated that conferring the Arjuna Award on Mirabai Chanu would be a deserving recognition of her sustained excellence, dedication to the sport and contribution to Indian athletics. He added that her inspiring journey from a small village in Manipur to becoming a global sporting star reflects determination, resilience and hard work.
The final decision on the Arjuna Award recipients will be taken by the Sports Ministry following the prescribed selection process.
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