The National Sports Awards to India are brought about by high talent, continuous hard work and dedication of the sportspersons, coaches and also organizations that greatly contribute to sports development in India. The sportsperson and sportsperson with a disability and the coach who is renowned and has an impact in their respective sport are honoured with the National Sports Awards by the Ministry Of Youth Affairs and Sports yearly.
There are six core awards constituting the National Sports Awards. These include the Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award, the Arjuna Award, the Dronacharya Award, the Major Dhyan Chand Award, the Maulana Abul Kalam Azad Trophy or MAKA Trophy and the Rashtriya Khel Protsahan Puruskar. Besides these important awards, there are other major awards instituted long ago too, in the year 1994, namely, the Tenzing Norgay National Adventure Award, the national honors conferment for achievements in the fields of adventure sports.
1. Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award
The Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award is Indian sports’ greatest pride. It was instituted in 1991-92 and rechristened in 2021 to be called after hockey wizard Major Dhyan Chand, honoring sportsmen or sportswomen who have done something outstanding in all disciplines for four consecutive years. A medallion, certificate and cash award accompany such honours. Grandmaster Viswanathan Anand was the first recipient of this award and since then, sporting icons like MC Mary Kom, PV Sindhu, Virat Kohli and Abhinav Bindra have been conferred with the award. Bindra, who won at 18, was the youngest ever winner and the first Indian to win an individual Olympic gold in 2008, making the Khel Ratna one of the most prestigious awards.
2. Arjuna Award
The Arjuna Award was instituted in 1961, for which the statuette, as well as certificate and prize money, would be given by the Government for an outstanding achievement. It was previously known as India’s highest sporting honor before Khel Ratna. It gives out a four-year continuous exceptional performance. The first Arjuna Awardee was the footballer PK Banerjee and the tradition of honouring the athletes with the Arjuna Award is still alive today.
3. Dronacharya Award
The Dronacharya Award was established in 1985 and it so happens that it is the highest recognition to coaches in India. It goes to coaches who have produced medal winners at the biggest international events. Named after the revered teacher of Arjuna in the Mahabharata, Dronacharya, this award brings to light the contributions of these coaches that paved the way to successful athletes. The first of them comprised names such as wrestling coach Bhalchandra Bhagwat and athletics coach OM Nambiar, mentor to the great PT Usha.
4. Major Dhyan Chand Award (Now Arjuna Award Lifetime)
In 2024, India renamed its Major Dhyan Chand Award the Arjuna Award Lifetime in a bid to rationalize the sporting honours bestowed by the nation. This lifetime achievement award honors people who have made lasting contributions in their sport and recognizes outstanding achievements in sports. Formerly known as the Major Dhyan Chand Award, it honored career-long achievements and success of sportspeople and their impact on Indian sport.
5. Maulana Abul Kalam Azad Trophy (MAKA Trophy)
Named after the freedom fighter and the first education minister of India, Maulana Abul Kalam Azad, the oldest National Sports Award instituted in the year 1956 is known by the name of MAKA Trophy. Presented to that university that does best in order to portray performance, MAKA Trophy presents importance at academic levels, for bringing new talent, which has to be groomed up well. And the Guru Nanak Dev University has been among one that did great all over its years of operations.
6. Rashtriya Khel Protsahan Puruskar
Rashtriya Khel Protsahan Puruskar was initiated in the year 2009 to motivate and recognize such organizations and persons who are trying to build up sports. Awards have been given in this scheme on several heads including scouting of talent, corporate social responsibility in sports, employment of sportspersons and sportspersons for social cause. Some may be sanctioned under this head during a particular year under these various heads.
7. Tenzing Norgay National Adventure Award
Tenzing Norgay National Adventure Award was instituted in 1994 and it is named after Tenzing Norgay, the first Indian to successfully conquer Mount Everest. Activities in this Tenzing Norgay National Adventure Award include mountaineering, skydiving, sailing and open water swimming, to name a few. This award was categorized into four categories, namely: land adventure, water adventure, air adventure and lifetime achievement, since it gives credence to the adventure spirit, as well as to those individuals pushing their limits through extreme sports.
National Sports Awards 2025
The National Sports Awards are set to take place on Friday, January 17, 2025 at the Rashtrapati Bhavan. The awardees are set to receive their awards from the President Of India, Sri. Droupadi Murmu. The Ministry Of Youth Affairs And Sports announces the national Sports Awards.
The Sportz Planet Desk,
Atharva Shetye