National Sports Awards 2024: Honoring Excellence in Indian Sports
The Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports has announced the National Sports Awards 2024. The awards will be presented by the President of India on January 17, 2025, at a ceremony in Rashtrapati Bhavan. These awards recognize exceptional contributions in sports by individuals, coaches, universities, and entities. The recipients were chosen based on the recommendations of a selection committee led by Justice (Retd.) V. Ramasubramanian and comprised eminent sportspersons, sports administrators, and journalists.
Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award 2024
The following sportspersons will be honored for their exceptional performances in their disciplines over the past four years:
- Shri Gukesh D (Chess)
- Shri Harmanpreet Singh (Hockey)
- Shri Praveen Kumar (Para-Athletics)
- Ms. Manu Bhaker (Shooting)
Arjuna Awards 2024
These awards acknowledge consistent performance, leadership, sportsmanship, and discipline over four years:
Recipients include:
- Athletics: Ms. Jyothi Yarraji, Ms. Annu Rani
- Boxing: Ms. Nitu, Ms. Saweety
- Chess: Ms. Vantika Agrawal
- Hockey: Ms. Salima Tete, Shri Abhishek, Shri Sanjay, Shri Jarmanpreet Singh, Shri Sukhjeet Singh
- Para-Sports: (Various disciplines including Para-Athletics, Para-Archery, Para-Badminton, and Para-Shooting)
Arjuna Lifetime Awards 2024
To honor retired athletes for continued contributions to sports:
- Shri Sucha Singh (Athletics)
- Shri Murlikant Rajaram Petkar (Para-Swimming)
Dronacharya Award 2024
For outstanding coaching contributions in sports:
Regular Category:
- Shri Subhash Rana (Para-Shooting)
- Ms. Deepali Deshpande (Shooting)
- Shri Sandeep Sangwan (Hockey)
Lifetime Category:
- Shri S Muralidharan (Badminton)
- Shri Armando Agnelo Colaco (Football)
Rashtriya Khel Protsahan Puraskar
Recognized: Physical Education Foundation of India
Maulana Abul Kalam Azad (MAKA) Trophy 2024
Awarded to universities for outstanding performance in the Khelo India University Games:
- Chandigarh University (Overall Winner)
- Lovely Professional University (1st Runner-Up)
- Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar (2nd Runner-Up)
Award Significance
- The Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award highlights extraordinary achievements in sports over four years.
- The Arjuna Award rewards consistent performance, sportsmanship, and discipline.
- The Arjuna Lifetime Award honors retired athletes continuing to contribute to sports.
- The Dronacharya Award celebrates exceptional coaching efforts.
- The MAKA Trophy recognizes top-performing universities in Khelo India Games.
FAQs
Which Sports award is given in India in 2024?
National Sports Awards 2024 were announced, including the Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna, Arjuna Award, Dronacharya Award, and others.
Which is the No. 1 sports award in India?
The Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award is India’s highest sporting honor, instituted in 1991–1992 to recognize outstanding performances.
How many sports awards are there in India?
India presents six major National Sports Awards annually, acknowledging achievements by athletes, coaches, and organizations.
What is the Khel Ratna Award?
The Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award is India’s highest sporting honor for excellence over the previous four years.
Who won the Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award in 2024?
The recipients include Gukesh D (Chess), Harmanpreet Singh (Hockey), and others.
Who was the first woman to win the Dronacharya Award?
Hansa Sharma, a renowned weightlifting coach, received the Dronacharya Award in 2000.
Who gives the Arjuna Award?
It is awarded annually by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports for consistent outstanding performances.
Who won the Arjuna Award in 2024?
Notable recipients include Jyothi Yarraji (Athletics) and Vantika Agrawal (Chess).
What is the difference between Dhyan Chand Award and Arjuna Award?
The Dhyan Chand Award recognizes lifetime achievement, while the Arjuna Award celebrates recent sports excellence.
Who is the first Padma Shri Award winner woman?
Nargis Dutt was the first woman to receive the Padma Shri Award in 1958.
Who is known as the father of sports in India?
Major Dhyan Chand is regarded as the “Father of Sports in India.”
In which year did Dhyan Chand receive the Padma Bhushan?
He was awarded the Padma Bhushan in 1956.
Who was the first recipient of the Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award?
Viswanathan Anand, India’s chess Grandmaster, received the award in 1991–1992.
Who is the youngest Arjuna Award winner in India?
Surekha is noted as one of the youngest recipients of this award.
Who was the first woman to receive the Arjuna Award?
Divyakriti Singh made history as the first Indian woman to win the Arjuna Award in Equestrian sports.
What is the monetary reward for the Khel Ratna Award?
The Khel Ratna Award comes with a cash prize of ₹25 lakh.
Who is the king of hockey in India?
Major Dhyan Chand is celebrated as the “King of Hockey” in India.
Who won the Rashtriya Khel Protsahan Puraskar in 2024?
The Physical Education Foundation of India received this recognition in 2024.
Which university won the MAKA Trophy in 2024?
Chandigarh University emerged as the overall winner.
Who was the first recipient of the Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award?
Chess Grandmaster Viswanathan Anand was the first recipient in 1991–1992.
What is the monetary prize for the Khel Ratna Award?
Who was the first woman to win the Dronacharya Award?
Hansa Sharma, a renowned weightlifting coach, received the award in 2000.
Who was the first Indian to win the Bharat Ratna?
The first recipients, in 1954, were C. Rajagopalachari, Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan, and C.V. Raman.
Who received the Dhyan Chand Award for lifetime achievement in 2024?
Recipients included Sucha Singh (Athletics) and Murlikant Petkar (Para-Swimming).
What is the oldest sports award in India?
The Arjuna Award, instituted in 1961, is one of India’s earliest sports recognitions.
Who is regarded as the “King of Hockey” in India?
Major Dhyan Chand, known for his unparalleled skills, holds this title.
When is National Sports Day celebrated in India?
National Sports Day is observed on August 29, commemorating Major Dhyan Chand’s birth anniversary.
Who was the first woman to win the Arjuna Award?
Divyakriti Singh received the Arjuna Award for Equestrian.
Which award is given to grassroots-level coaches?
The Dronacharya Award recognizes exceptional grassroots-level coaching.
Which universities were runners-up for the MAKA Trophy in 2024?
Lovely Professional University and Guru Nanak Dev University were first and second runners-up, respectively.
Who was the youngest Arjuna Award winner?
Surekha holds the distinction of being India’s youngest recipient.
What are India’s top civilian awards?
India’s top civilian awards are Bharat Ratna, Padma Vibhushan, Padma Bhushan, and Padma Shri, in that order of precedence.
Which sportsperson was nicknamed the “Wizard of Hockey”?
Major Dhyan Chand earned this nickname due to his extraordinary hockey skills.
What is the significance of the Rashtriya Khel Protsahan Puraskar?
This award encourages organizations that promote the development of sports.
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