NEW DELHI, Aug 14: Ace fast bowler Javagal Srinath, Olympian hockey goalkeepers A B Subbaiah and Ashish Ballal, golfer Amit Luthra and late yachtsman Kelly S Rao are among the 18 sportspersons selected for the prestigious Arjuna awards for 1996 announced here this evening.

Olympic bronze medallist and tennis star Leander Paes and former world weightlifting champion N Kunjurani will receive the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna award.

Former billiards world champion Wilson Jones and Pal Singh Sandhu have been selected for Dronacharya award for being eminent coaches of billiards and weightlifting.

Punjab University (Chandigarh) has won the Maulana Abul Kalam Azad Trophy for 1995-96.

The Arjuna award consist of a cash prize of Rs 50,000, a bronze statuette of Arjuna and a scroll.

Rajiv Khel Ratna award carries a cash prize of Rs one lakh, a scroll of honour and a plaque.

Dronacharya award contprises Rs 75,000 and a statuette of Dronacharya and a scroll.

Punjab University will receive a replica of Abul Kalam Azad Trophy and cash prize of Rs 50,000.

Among the 18 sportspersons named for the Arjuna awards are two handicapped badminton and cricket players.

The Arjuna award recipients for 1996 are: Javagal Srinath (cricket), A B Subbaiah, Ashish Ballal (both hockey), Ajit Bhaduria, Padmini Thomas (both athletics), Raj Kumar Sangwan (boxing), Anthony Maria Irudayam (carrom), Amit Luthra (golf), Poonam Chopra (judo), Shriram Bhavsar, Neeta M Dadwe (kabaddi), Surender Singh Waldia (rowing), Moraad Ali Khan (shooting), Gaurav Natekar (tennis), V Kutraleeshwaran (swimming), Lt Commander Kelly S Rao (yachting)-posthumously.

Physically handicapped category: Sandeep Singh Dhillon (badminton), Kalle Gowda (athletics and cricket).

Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award (1995-96): N Kunjurani (weightlifting). 1996-97: Leander Paes (tennis).

Dronacharya Award for 1996: Wilson Jones (billiards and snooker), Pal Singh Sandhu (weightlifting).

Abul Kalam Azad Trophy: Punjab University (Chandigarh), runners-up Delhi University: Third place: Guru Nanak University.