We need to give importance to sports as a main subject rather than an extra-curricular activity, only then will we be able to improve India's performance in international level competitions. Players should also take sports seriously like a degree program and work hard in it and perform excellently. Because just as you reach a good position by studying, in the same way we can reach a high position in sports through good performance.

These were the words of Ravi Kumar Gupta, Director of Sports and Youth Welfare Department of Madhya Pradesh. He was speaking as the keynote speaker at the RNTU Sports Achievers Award 2024 Ceremony organized by Rabindranath Tagore University at Kushabhau Thakre Convention Center to honor the talents of the state on the occasion of National Sports Day.

On this occasion, the players of RNTU were honored with the Sports Achievers Award who have increased the pride of the nation and the state at the national and international level. In this, a total of 95 players (list is attached separately) of Hockey Men's Team, Hockey Women's Team, Sailing, Judo, Shooting, Athletics, Boxing, Taekwondo, Wrestling, Rowing, Karate, Kayaking-Canoeing, Fencing and Badminton were awarded with a sum of Rs. 24 lakh 60 thousand.

During this, the special guests of the program included Rabindranath Tagore University Chancellor Santosh Chaubey, Scope Global Skills University Chancellor Dr. Siddharth Chaturvedi, former Olympian Mr. Ashok Dhyanchand, Indian Sports Authority Regional Director Abhishek Chauhan, BJP State Vice President Pankaj Joshi, RNTU Pro Chancellor Dr. Aditi Chaturvedi Vats, RNTU Registrar Vijay Singh were present.

In the program, Scope Global Skills University Chancellor Siddharth Chaturvedi welcomed all the guests while giving the welcome speech and informed about the work being done by Rabindranath Tagore University for the benefit of students and promotion of sports. He also said that we are preparing the infrastructure in the university with the aim of organizing Khelo India University Games.

At the same time, Chancellor of Rabindranath Tagore University Santosh Chaubey highlighted the importance of sports in life and said that continuous efforts are being made to promote sports in the university. Many new initiatives will be taken in future as well. In his statement, he praised Olympian and hockey player Vivek Sagar and congratulated him on being made the vice-captain of the Indian hockey team.

Former Olympian Ashok Dhyanchand praised RNTU's intention to host Khelo India University Games and said that the schools, colleges and universities of the state should move forward with this thinking and objective. He also asked the industry to encourage sports through CSR activities, sponsorship and other support.

Regional Director of Sports Authority of India Abhishek Chauhan congratulated all the players and praised the efforts being made by the AISECT group.

RNTU Registrar Dr. Vijay Singh gave a vote of thanks and wished the players to continue performing well in the future. In the program, RNTU Sports Achievers Award was given to the players studying at Rabindranath Tagore University. In this, Vivek Sagar from Hockey Men's Team was given an amount of Rs 5 lakh for bringing laurels to the country at the international level. This honor was received by his parents. Apart from this, Ali, Saddam, Arham, Shreyas, Ankit, Sundaram, Vaibhav, Abhay, Swapnil, Shailendra, Aamir, Himanshu, Deepak, Adesh, Satyam, Avnish, Akshay, Abhijeet and Love were honored for waving the flag of RNTU in Khelo India University Games.In sailing, Neha Thakur, Sheetal, Nancy, Vidyanshi were honored with prize money.Hockey Women's Team was honored for winning silver in Khelo India Youth Games and participation in Khelo India University Games 2023.