The National Sports Awards, instituted by India’s Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, honor exceptional contributions and achievements in sports. These prestigious awards recognize the excellence of athletes, coaches, and sports organizations.
The overview highlights the recipients of the award for 2024, showcasing their outstanding performances and contributions to sports.
What are National Sports Awards?
India’s National Sports Awards, instituted by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, honor exceptional achievements in sports. These prestigious awards recognize the outstanding contributions of athletes, coaches, and sports organizations.
The awards celebrate excellence in sports, with the most notable being the Khel Ratna, Arjuna Award, and Dronacharya Award. The Khel Ratna recognizes top athletes, the Arjuna Award is given to consistent performers, and the Dronacharya Award honors outstanding coaches.
National Sports Awards 2024 list
The Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports has announced the National Sports Awards 2024. The awardees will be honored by the President of India at a ceremony on Friday, 17th January 2025 at 11:00 AM at Rashtrapati Bhavan, recognizing their exceptional contributions and achievements in sports.
National Sports Award 2024 list:
- Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award 2024 winners
- Arjuna Award 2024 winners
- Dronacharya Award 2024 winners
- Rashtriya Khel Protsahan Puraskar 2024 winner
- Maulana Abul Kalam Azad (MAKA) Trophy 2024 winners
The Khel Ratna is awarded to top athletes for outstanding international performances, while the Arjuna Award recognizes consistent excellence in sports. The Dronacharya Award honors outstanding coaches. Other notable awards include the Rashtriya Khel Protsahan Puraskar, which recognizes contributions to sports promotion, and the Maulana Abul Kalam Azad Trophy for the best performing university in sports. The awards are presented annually by the President of India during a ceremony at Rashtrapati Bhavan
1. Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award 2024
Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award is the highest sporting honor conferred by the Government of India. It is named after the legendary Indian hockey player Major Dhyan Chand, who is widely regarded as one of the greatest hockey players in history. The award was introduced in 1991-92 and aims to recognize exceptional and outstanding performances by athletes across various sports disciplines in India.
Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna is awarded annually to individuals who have exhibited the highest level of excellence in their respective sports, with consistent and exceptional performance, usually over a period of four years, especially at international competitions. The recipient of the award is selected by a committee appointed by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports.
The award consists of:
- A medallion
- A certificate
- A cash prize (currently ₹25 lakh)
Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award 2024 Winners List
| Sportsperson | Sports |
|
Chess |
|
Hockey |
|
Para-Athletics |
|
Shooting |
2. Arjuna Award 2024
Arjuna Award is presented annually by the Government of India to athletes who have demonstrated consistent excellence in their respective sports. The award recognizes outstanding performance in national and international competitions, awarded for achievements over a period of four years.
The Arjuna Award consists of:
- A statuette
- A certificate
- A cash prize (currently ₹15 lakh)
Arjuna Award 2024 Winners List
| Sportsperson and Discipline | Sportsperson and Discipline |
| 1. Ms. Jyothi Yarraji- Athletics | 17. Shri Pranav Soorma- Athletics |
| 2. Ms. Annu Rani- Athletics | 18. Shri H Hokato Sema- Athletics |
| 3. Ms. Nitu- Boxing | 19. Ms. Simran Sharma- Athletics |
| 4. Ms. Saweety- Boxing | 20. Shri Navdeep Singh- Athletics |
| 5. Ms. Vantika Agrawal- Chess | 21. Shri Nitesh Kumar- Para-Badminton |
| 6. Ms. Salima Tete- Hockey | 22. Ms. Thulasimathi Murugesan- Para-Badminton |
| 7. Shri Abhishek- Hockey | 23. Ms. Nithya Sre Sumathy Sivan- Para-Badminton |
| 8. Shri Sanjay- Hockey | 24. Ms. Manisha Ramadass- Para-Badminton |
| 9. Shri Jarmanpreet Singh- Hockey | 25. Shri Kapil Parmar- Para-Judo |
| 10. Shri Sukhjeet Singh- Hockey | 26. Ms. Mona Agarwal- Para-Shooting |
| 11. Shri Rakesh Kumar- Archery | 27. Ms. Rubina Francis- Para-Shooting |
| 12. Ms. Preeti Pal- Athletics | 28. Shri Swapnil Suresh Kusale- Shooting |
| 13. Ms. Jeevanji Deepthi- Athletics | 29. Shri Sarabjot Singh- Shooting |
| 14. Shri Ajeet Singh- Athletics | 30. Shri Abhay Singh- Squash |
| 15. Shri Sachin Sarjerao Khilari- Athletics | 31. Shri Sajan Prakash- Swimming |
| 16. Shri Dharambir- Athletics | 32. Shri Aman- Wrestling |
Arjuna Awards (Lifetime) 2024 winners
| Sportsperson | Discipline |
|
Athletics |
|
Para-Swimming |
3. Dronacharya Award 2024
Dronacharya Award is one of India’s highest honors for sports coaches, presented annually by the Government of India to recognize exceptional coaching contributions that have led to outstanding performances by athletes in national and international competitions.
The award is named after the legendary teacher Dronacharya from the Indian epic Mahabharata, symbolizing the ideal of a dedicated coach.
The Dronacharya Award consists of:
- A statuette
- A certificate
- A cash prize (currently ₹15 lakh)
Dronacharya Award 2024 Winners List
Regular Category
| Coaches | Discipline |
|
Shooting |
|
Shooting |
|
Hockey |
Lifetime Category
| Coaches | Discipline |
|
Badminton |
|
Football |
4. Rashtriya Khel Protsahan Puraskar 2024
The Rashtriya Khel Protsahan Puraskar is a prestigious award presented annually by the Government of India to individuals, organizations, or entities that have made significant contributions to the promotion of sports in the country. It recognizes efforts in areas such as sports promotion, sports development, and infrastructure improvement, as well as initiatives that encourage sports at the grassroots level.
The award is conferred in four categories:
- Identification and Nurturing of Young Talent – Awarded to individuals or organizations that have excelled in identifying and nurturing young sports talent.
- Promotion of Sports – Given to individuals or organizations for their outstanding contributions in promoting sports across various communities.
- Encouragement to Sports through Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) – Recognizes corporate bodies or organizations that contribute to sports development through CSR activities.
- Sports for Development – Awarded to those who use sports as a tool to bring about positive social change.
Rashtriya Khel Protsahan Puraskar 2024 Winner
| Physical Education Foundation of India |
5. Maulana Abul Kalam Azad Trophy 2024
Maulana Abul Kalam Azad Trophy is awarded annually to the best overall performing university in the field of sports in India. This prestigious award, named after Maulana Abul Kalam Azad, India’s first Minister of Education, is presented by the Government of India to encourage and recognize sports achievements at the university level.
The recipient university is selected based on its performance in various inter-university sports competitions held throughout the year. The award aims to promote sports and physical education among students, fostering a culture of excellence in sports at the university level.
The Maulana Abul Kalam Azad Trophy consists of a trophy and a cash prize of:
- First place: ₹15 lakh
- Second place: ₹7.5 lakh
- Third place: ₹4.5 lakh
Maulana Abul Kalam Azad Trophy 2024 Winner
| Name of University | Position |
| Chandigarh University | Overall winner University |
| Lovely Professional University, (PB) | 1st runner up University |
| Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar | 2nd runner up University |
Who Gives National Sports Award in India?
National Sports Awards are conferred by the President of India, making it one of the highest honors in the field of sports. The awards are presented annually during a grand ceremony held on National Sports Day, August 29, at Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi. The ceremony is organized by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, which is responsible for overseeing the selection process and the nomination of awardees. The awards aim to recognize and celebrate the exceptional achievements of athletes, coaches, and sports organizations in the country.
National Sports Awards FAQs
Q1. What is the Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award?
Answer: The Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award is the highest sporting honor in India, named after the legendary hockey player. It recognizes athletes who have shown outstanding performance in sports, particularly at international competitions, over a period of four years.
Q2. What is the Arjuna Award?
Answer: The Arjuna Award is given to athletes who have displayed consistent excellence in their respective sports, based on achievements over a period of four years in national and international competitions. It consists of a statuette, certificate, and cash prize.
Q3. What is the Dronacharya Award?
Answer: The Dronacharya Award honors outstanding coaches who have made significant contributions to the success of athletes in national and international competitions. The award celebrates coaches who have demonstrated exceptional dedication to the development of their athletes.
Q4. Who presents the National Sports Awards in India?
Answer: The President of India presents the National Sports Awards during a grand ceremony held at Rashtrapati Bhavan on National Sports Day (August 29). The Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports organizes the event and oversees the selection process.
Q5. When is the National Sports Awards ceremony held?
Answer: The National Sports Awards ceremony takes place annually on National Sports Day, August 29, at Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi. This day commemorates the birth anniversary of legendary hockey player Major Dhyan Chand.
