BHUBANESHWAR: The trophies of the national sports awards have undergone a design change. They are all set to appear in new looks when President Pratibha Patil gives away the awards on Saturday. The sports ministry on Wednesday unveiled the new-look awards, including the inaugural Rashtriya Khel Protsahan Puraskar, crafted by Gajendra Sahu and Mukul Goyal.
Gajendra Prasad Sahu is the head of Graphic Arts Department of the BK College of Arts and Crafts, Bhubaneswar.
“The new statuettes are more forceful and meaningful in their look. Unlike the earlier statuettes, which were coming in big glass-covered boxes, the new ones are more convenient to hold and carry,” said Sahu.
“The antique polishing has added an aesthetic look to these statuettes,” he added. As desired by sports minister Gill, the new Arjuna and Dronacharya Awards would now have a similarity with the Oscars.
The Ministry of Sports and Youth Affairs took into consideration several designs before giving its approval to the ones submitted by the 48-year-old artist from Orissa.
Sahu had been asked to deliver a total of 33 statuettes, including 18 Arjuna and eight Dronacharya by July 10. According to the designer, each statuette stands 15 inches tall and weighs two kilogram approximately. “Sportspersons and coaches are sure to love and pay respect to these statuettes,” he felt.