Murlikant Petkar’s lifelong dedication to sports celebrated with Arjuna Award (Lifetime)

Deepali Deshpande honoured with Dronacharya Award

Arjuna Award for Swapnil Kusale and Sachin Khilari

Mumbai, 3rd January 2025: Maharashtra’s athletes and coaches have once again brought glory to the state by clinching top honours at the National Sports Awards 2024. The awards, which will be presented by the President of India on 17th January 2025 at Rashtrapati Bhavan, celebrate not only their achievements but also their determination to overcome challenges and inspire the nation.

Maharashtra’s Awardees:

Shri Murlikant Rajaram Petkar – Arjuna Award (Lifetime Contribution, Para-Swimming)

Shri Petkar’s life is an extraordinary tale of resilience and unyielding spirit. A pioneer in Para-Swimming, Murlikant Petkar’s lifelong dedication to the sport has been celebrated with the Arjuna Award (Lifetime). Hailing from rural Maharashtra, Petkar began his journey in the wrestling arenas of his youth and went on to represent India in various sports events.

His career highlights include:

- Representing the Indian Army in boxing during the Tokyo Games.

- Sustaining multiple bullet wounds during the 1965 Indo-Pak War, which led to his transition into para-sports.

- Winning gold in swimming at the 1972 Summer Paralympics, becoming India’s first Paralympic gold medalist.

Petkar’s accolades include an awe-inspiring tally of 12 gold medals in international events, 34 gold medals at the national level, and a staggering 40 gold medals at the state level. His contributions to sports were recognised with the Shiv Chhatrapati State Sports Award, and in 2018, he was awarded the Padma Shri.

Ms. Deepali Deshpande – Dronacharya Award (Shooting)

Ms. Deepali Deshpande’s relentless dedication to coaching has transformed the landscape of Indian shooting. The Dronacharya Award, instituted in 1985, is given to honour eminent Coaches who have successfully trained sportspersons or teams and enabled them to achieve outstanding results in international competitions. Recognised with the Dronacharya Award, Deepali Deshpande’s efforts have been pivotal in mentoring young shooters and helping them shine on the global stage. Her work underscores the importance of nurturing talent and building a strong foundation for India’s future in shooting sports.

Shri Swapnil Suresh Kusale – Arjuna Award (Shooting)

Swapnil Kusale’s journey from being a ticket collector with Indian Railways to becoming one of India’s most celebrated shooter is nothing short of remarkable. His crowning achievement came at the Paris 2024 Olympics, where he became the first Indian shooter to win a medal in the 50m Rifle 3 Positions Men’s event, securing bronze with a stellar score of 451.4 in the finals.

Born and raised in Pune, the 28-year-old’s career began in 2015 when he bought his first rifle using his earnings from his job. That same year, he announced his arrival on the international stage by winning gold in the 50m rifle prone 3 junior category at the Asian Shooting Championships in Kuwait.

Kusale’s career highlights include:

Securing a Paris 2024 Olympic quota with a fourth-place finish in the 50m rifle 3 positions at the 2022 World Championship in Cairo, Egypt.

Winning gold in the men’s 50m rifle 3 positions team event at the Hangzhou 2022 Asian Games.

Shri Sachin Sarjerao Khilari – Arjuna Award (Para-Athletics)

From a farmer’s son in Sangli to a global para-athletics champion, Sachin Khilari’s story is a testament to perseverance. A fall during childhood left his left hand disabled, but he refused to let it limit him. At the Paris 2024 Paralympics, Khilari won silver in the Men’s Shot Put F46 event with an Asian record of 16.32m, narrowly missing gold to Canada’s Greg Stewart (16.38m).

Check out the complete list of winners of National Sports Awards 2024 here.