Mumbai: The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) today (August 30) congratulated Poonam Yadav and Ravindra Jadeja for being conferred with the Arjuna Awards.

Recognising their efforts and achievements for Team India, the BCCI had sent their nominations to the ministry of youth affairs and sports earlier this year in April.

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On the occasion of National Sports Day (August 29), President Ram Nath Kovind presented the National Sports Awards at a function held at Rashtrapati Bhavan. Poonam collected her award in person while Jadeja could not as he is on national duty preparing for the second Test in Jamaica against West Indies.

Vinod Rai, Chairman, Committee of Administrators (CoA), said, “I congratulate the two cricketers for receiving the prestigious award. Both these cricketers have raised the bar with their on-field performances. The award will further motivate them to do well and it will also inspire other young cricketers in the country to keep striving hard."

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CoA member Diana Edulji said, “I am not surprised to see Poonam Yadav winning this award as she has been consistently doing well. She has worked quite hard on her bowling and the economical figures prove that. She was phenomenal in 2018 and finished with 35 T20I wickets, the most by any cricketer in a calendar year. I also congratulate Ravindra Jadeja for his all-round show."

Lieutenant General Ravindra Thodge, CoA member, said, “National Sports Awards recognise the best in Indian sports and I congratulate them for this sporting honour. Ravindra Jadeja is only the third Indian cricketer to have 2,000-plus runs and 150 wickets in ODIs. Both the cricketers are among the top 10 in the global rankings and I wish to see them climb up the ladder once again."

In a video message, Jadeja had thanked the Narendra Modi government for selecting for the Arjuna Award.