National Sports Awards, 2024
13 Jan, 2025
Recently, the Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports announced the National Sports Awards 2024.
Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award
Category: Highest sporting honor in India
Awarded to: Sportspersons who have made outstanding contributions to sports
Eligibility: Indian sportspersons who have achieved excellence in their respective sports
Selection criteria: Performance at the Olympic Games, Asian Games, Commonwealth Games, World Championships, and other recognized international competitions
Prize: A cash award of ₹25 lakhs, a citation, and a trophy
Recipients:
1. Gukesh D (Chess) - the 18-year-old world chess champion
2. Harmanpreet Singh (Hockey) - led the Indian hockey team to a bronze medal at the Paris 2024 Olympics
3. Praveen Kumar (Para-Athletics) - won a silver medal at the Paris 2024 Paralympics
4. Manu Bhaker (Shooting) - won two Olympic medals at the Paris 2024 Olympics
Arjuna Awards
Category: Outstanding performance in sports and games
Awarded to: Sportspersons who have achieved excellence in their respective sports
Eligibility: Indian sportspersons who have achieved outstanding performance in recognized international competitions
Selection criteria: Performance at the Olympic Games, Asian Games, Commonwealth Games, World Championships, and other recognized international competitions
Prize: A cash award of ₹15 lakhs, a citation, and a trophy
Recipients:
1. Jyothi Yarraji (Athletics)
2. Annu Rani (Athletics)
3. Nitu Ghanghas (Boxing)
4. Saweety Boora (Boxing)
5. Vantika Agrawal (Chess)
6. Salima Tete (Hockey)
7. Abhishek (Hockey)
8. Sanjay (Hockey)
9. Jarmanpreet Singh (Hockey)
10. Sukhjeet Singh (Hockey)
11. Rakesh Kumar (Para-Archery)
12. Preeti Pal (Para-Athletics)
13. Jeevanji Deepthi (Para-Athletics)
14. Ajeet Singh (Para-Athletics)
15. Sachin Sarjerao Khilari (Para-Athletics)
16. Dharambir (Para-Athletics)
17. Pranav Soorma (Para-Athletics)
18. Hokato Hotozhe Sema (Para-Athletics)
19. Simran Sharma (Para-Athletics)
20. Navdeep Singh (Para-Athletics)
21. Nitesh Kumar (Para-Badminton)
22. Thulasimathi Murugesan (Para-Badminton)
23. Nithya Sre Sivan (Para-Badminton)
24. Manisha Ramadass (Para-Badminton)
25. Kapil Parmar (Para-Judo)
26. Mona Agarwal (Para-Shooting)
27. Rubina Francis (Para-Shooting)
28. Swapnil Kusale (Shooting)
29. Sarabjot Singh (Shooting)
30. Abhay Singh (Squash)
31. Sajan Prakash (Swimming)
32. Aman (Wrestling)
Dronacharya Awards
Category: Outstanding coaching in sports and games
Awarded to: Coaches who have made outstanding contributions to sports
Eligibility: Indian coaches who have achieved excellence in coaching and have contributed to the development of sports in India
Selection criteria: Performance of athletes/coaches at the Olympic Games, Asian Games, Commonwealth Games, World Championships, and other recognized international competitions
Prize: A cash award of ₹15 lakhs, a citation, and a trophy
Recipients:
1. Subhash Rana (Para-Shooting) - Regular Category
2. Deepali Deshpande (Shooting) - Regular Category
3. Sandeep Sangwan (Hockey) - Regular Category
4. S Muralidharan (Badminton) - Lifetime Category
5. Armando Agnelo Colaco (Football) - Lifetime Category
Rashtriya Khel Protsahan Puraskar
Category: Promotion of sports
Awarded to: Entities that have made significant contributions to the promotion of sports in India
Eligibility: Indian entities, including companies, NGOs, and sports organizations, that have contributed to the development of sports in India
Selection criteria: Contributions to the promotion of sports, including sponsorship, infrastructure development, and grassroots initiatives
Prize: A cash award of ₹15 lakhs, a citation, and a trophy
Recipients: Physical Education Foundation of India
Maulana Abul Kalam Azad Trophy
Category: Top-performing university in the Khelo India University Games
Awarded to: Universities that have achieved excellence in sports
Eligibility: Indian universities that have participated in the Khelo India University Games
Selection criteria: Performance of universities in the Khelo India University Games
Prize: A cash award of ₹10 lakhs, a citation, and a trophy
Recipients:
1. Chandigarh University - Overall Winner University
2. Lovely Professional University - 1st Runner Up University
3. Guru Nanak Dev University - 2nd Runner Up University