Three-time Olympian and former Hockey Captain Ajitpal Singh was selected as the Chairman of the Dronacharya Award Selection Committee on 7 August 2014.
The committee will have 15 members, including 12 eminent sportspersons and three officials. The three officials -- Director General of the Sports Authority of India and a joint secretary and deputy secretary from the ministry -- will also be in the committee.
The Dronacharya award is scheduled to be presented on 29 August 2014 (National Sports Day). The Committee will recommend the deserving sportspersons for the prestigious awards and a final decision vests with Union Sports Minister Sarbanand Sonowal.
In 2013, the Dronacharya Award Selection Committee was headed by Mountaineer HPS Ahluwalia.
Dronacharya Award instituted in 1985 by Government of India recognizes excellence in sports coaching. The award comprises a bronze statuette of Dronacharya, a scroll of honour and a cash component of 500000 rupees.
About Ajitpal Singh
He was the Captain of the Indian hockey team that won India’s first and only Hockey World Cup in 1975 held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
He represented India in three Olympics Games, viz., 1968 (Mexico City) 1972 (Munich) and 1976 (Montreal), and won bronze medals in his first two Olympic Games.
He was conferred the Arjuna Award in 1970, and awarded it in 1972. He was also bestowed with Padma Shri award in 1992.