What are the National Sports Awards?
The National Sports Awards are India’s highest sporting awards. They’re given each year to celebrate success in sports.
The Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports gives the awards in six categories. Since 2004, the Tenzing Norgay National Adventure Award has also been presented with the six National Sports Awards.
What are the six categories?
- Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award - It is India's top sports honour. It is given for outstanding achievements in sports over a four-year period.
- Arjuna Award - It was India's highest sporting honour until the Khel Ratna was established. It is given to those who consistently perform well in sports over a four-year period.
- Dronacharya Award - It is India’s top sports award for coaches. It is given to those who help athletes win medals at prestigious international competitions.
- Major Dhyan Chand Award - It is India's highest prize for lifetime sporting achievements. It is presented to those who show outstanding performance and contribute to the promotion of sports on an individual level.
- Maulana Abul Kalam Azad (MAKA) Trophy - It is India’s oldest national sports award. It is awarded to an institution or university for great achievement in inter-university tournaments throughout the previous year.
- Rashtriya Khel Protsahan Puraskar - It is given to public or private organisations and individuals for their contributions to sports promotion and growth during the last three years.
Additionally, the Tenzing Norgay National Adventure Award is presented to people who have shown excellence and dedicated themselves to the development of adventure sports.
Who are some of the recipients of the latest National Sports Awards?
On 20th December 2023, the National Sports Awards for 2023 were announced. The winners received their awards from the President of India, Droupadi Murmu, on 9th January 2024.
Some winners of the awards are:
- Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award - Chirag Chandrashekhar Shetty and Rankireddy Satwik Sai Raj (both for Badminton).
- Arjuna Awards - Mohammed Shami (Cricket), Sheetal Devi (Para Archery), R Vaishali (Chess), Diksha Dagar (Golf), Pawan Kumar (Kabaddi).
- Dronacharya Award - Lalit Kumar (Wrestling), Jaskirat Singh Grewal (Golf), Mahaveer Prasad Saini (Para Athletics).
- Major Dhyan Chand Award - Manjusha Kanwar (Badminton), Vineet Kumar Sharma (Hockey), Kavitha Selvaraj (Kabaddi).
- MAKA Trophy - Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar.
- Rashtriya Khel Protsahan Puraskar - Odisha Mining Corporation Limited (OMC) and JAIN (Deemed-to-be University).
- Tenzing Norgay National Adventure Award - Late Savita Kanswal (Land Adventure), Tulsi Chaitanya Mothukuri (Water Adventure), Anshu Kumar Tiwari (Air Adventure), Parveen Singh (Lifetime Achievement).
You can check the full lists on these two sites: Article 1 and Article 2.
