National Sports Awards- India Honors!

“Whether you are successful or not you have to be honest and sincere in what you do.”

National Sports Awards are given every year to recognize and reward excellence in sports. Nominations are received for these awards every year, which are considered by Selection Committee consisting of eminent sports persons and sports administrators. Based on the recommendations of the Committee and after due scrutiny, the Government confers awards upon the sports persons.

1. Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award: instituted in 1991-92 was named after late Rajiv Gandhi, and is highest honor given for achievement in sports, whether by an individual or a team, across all sporting disciplines in a given year. Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award is given for spectacular performance in the year under consideration. Normally there will be only one award of Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna every year to be given to an individual sportsperson. However, this condition can be relaxed in exceptional circumstances viz., winning of an Olympic medal. 27 RGKR have been awarded as of year 2013. The first RGKR was given to Vishwanathan Anand in 1992. The 2013 RGKR has been conferred on Ronjon Sodhi. The award was not conferred upon any sportsperson or team in the year 1994.

2. Arjuna Awards: instituted in 1961 by the government of India, the first sports award, to recognize outstanding achievement in National sports. Arjuna Award is given for consistently outstanding performance for three consecutive years preceding the year of award. Normally not more than 15 awards are to be given in any calendar year but can be relaxed keeping in view the performance of Indian sports persons in the Commonwealth, Asian Games and Olympic Games during a particular year.

3. Dronacharya Awards: instituted in 1985, the award is presented by government of India for excellence in sports coaching. It comprises, <similar to other awards>, a bronze statuette of Dronacharya (the guru of Arjuna), a scroll of honor and a cash component. Shri B.I. Fernandez is the first foreign coach to have been awarded this award in 2012.

4. Dhyan Chand Awards: initiated in 2002 it is India’s highest award for lifetime achievement in sports and games, given by the Government of India. It is named after the legendary Indian Hockey player Dhyan Chand. It carries a plaque and a scroll of honor and the cash component. 39 persons have been awarded the same as of 2013.

5. Rashtriya Khel Protsahan Puruskar: introduced in 2009 with a view to recognize the contribution made to sports development by entities other than sports persons and coaches, and is given in four categories, namely, community sports development, promotion of sports academies of excellence, support to elite sportspersons and employment to sportspersons. 

The objective of the award is to encourage and promote corporate involvement in the promotion and development of sports in the country. 

Apart from a medal and a citation, the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Awardee will receive a cash prize of Rs.7.5 lakh. Arjuna, Dronacharya and Dhyan Chand Awardees will receive statuettes, citations and cash prize of Rs.5 lakh each. Recipients of Rashtriya Khel Protsahan Puruskar will be given Trophies.

The awardees receive their awards from His Excellency the President of India at a specially organized function at the Rashtrapati Bhawan, generally, on August 29 celebrated as National Sports Day (birthday of Dhyan Chand).