Fri Jan 03 02:36:43 UTC 2025: **Indian Railways Celebrates Record Number of Arjuna Awardees**
**New Delhi, January 3, 2025** – Indian Railways is celebrating a remarkable achievement in sports, boasting the highest number of sportspersons awarded prestigious national sports accolades among all organizations in India. Five Railway employees – Jyothi Yarraji, Annu Rani, Salima Tete, Swapnil Suresh Kusale, and Aman – were among the 32 recipients of the Arjuna Award in 2024. They will receive their awards at a ceremony at Rashtrapati Bhavan on January 17th.
This brings the total number of national awards won by Indian Railways employees to an impressive 183 Arjuna Awards, 28 Padma Shri Awards, 12 Dhyan Chand Awards, 13 Dronacharya Awards, and 9 Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Awards.
The Railway Ministry attributes this success to the Railway Sports Promotion Board (RSPB), established in 1928. Initially focusing on hockey, athletics, and tennis, the RSPB now supports 29 disciplines (18 individual and 11 team sports) and is affiliated with 28 National Sports Federations and the USIC (World Railways Sports Association). Currently, over 9,000 sportspersons are employed by Indian Railways, with approximately 3,000 actively competing. The Ministry highlighted the outstanding international performances of these athletes.
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