Shooter Dhanush Srikanth Nominated for Arjuna Award

Hyderabad shooter Dhanush Srikanth was nominated for the prestigious Arjuna Award on Tuesday following his record-breaking achievements on the international stage. The 24-year-old champion learned of the nomination after his mentor and London Olympics bronze medallist Gagan Narang called to inform him about the official announcement.

Dhanush, who is currently ranked World No. 1 in the deaf category for shooters, received the news as he prepares for upcoming international competitions in the general category.

His mother, Asha Srikanth, noted that the family was initially cautious after past inquiries, but celebrated once Narang confirmed the development. She expressed gratitude to those who supported Dhanush throughout his journey, particularly the Gun For Glory academy founded by Narang to train competitive shooters across the country.

The recognition comes as Dhanush gears up to compete in the general category at the senior World Cup in Cairo later this year. The shooter has also set a long-term goal of securing a medal at the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles.

Dhanush previously made history at the 25th Summer Deaflympics in Tokyo, where he clinched India's first shooting gold medal in the 10m air rifle event. During the competition, he broke the Deaflympics qualification record before shooting a score of 252.2 in the final. That performance eclipsed his own previous world record of 251.7, while his teammate Mohammed Murtaza Vania claimed the silver medal with a score of 250.1.

Following his international triumph, the Telangana Government felicitated Dhanush a couple of months ago and announced a cash incentive of Rs 1.20 crore, which the shooter is currently awaiting.