The National Sports Awards 2024 have honored India’s top athletes, coaches, and institutions for their outstanding achievements in sports. These awards recognize the dedication, hard work, and excellence that contribute to India’s growing success on the global sports stage.
Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award
The Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award, India’s highest sports honor, was awarded to four exceptional athletes in 2024:
- Manu Bhaker (Shooting)
- Gukesh D (Chess)
- Harmanpreet Singh (Hockey)
- Praveen Kumar (Para-Athletics)
These athletes were chosen for their remarkable performances and consistent achievements in their respective sports over the past few years. This prestigious award will be presented by the President of India on January 17, 2025, at Rashtrapati Bhavan.
Arjuna Awards
The Arjuna Award honors athletes who have displayed exceptional skill, leadership, and discipline in their sports. In 2024, athletes from various disciplines were recognized for their achievements:
- 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-Archery: Shri Rakesh Kumar
- Para-Athletics: Ms. Preeti Pal, Ms. Jeevanji Deepthi, Shri Ajeet Singh, Shri Sachin Sarjerao Khilari, Shri Dharambir, Shri Pranav Soorma, Shri H Hokato Sema, Ms. Simran, Shri Navdeep
- Para-Badminton: Shri Nitesh Kumar, Ms. Thulasimathi Murugesan, Ms. Nithya Sre Sumathy Sivan, Ms. Manisha Ramadass
- Para-Judo: Shri Kapil Parmar
- Para-Shooting: Ms. Mona Agarwal, Ms. Rubina Francis
- Shooting: Shri Swapnil Suresh Kusale, Shri Sarabjot Singh
- Squash: Shri Abhay Singh
- Swimming: Shri Sajan Prakash
- Wrestling: Shri Aman
Arjuna Award (Lifetime Achievement)
The Arjuna Award (Lifetime Achievement) honors retired athletes who have contributed significantly to sports even after their careers have ended. This year’s recipients include:
- Shri Sucha Singh (Athletics)
- Shri Murlikant Rajaram Petkar (Para-Swimming)
Dronacharya Awards
The Dronacharya Award is given to outstanding coaches who have guided athletes to international success. In 2024, coaches from various sports received this recognition:
- 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
The Rashtriya Khel Protsahan Puraskar recognizes organizations that promote sports and encourage sports development. This year, the Physical Education Foundation of India was honored with this prestigious award for its contribution to sports growth.
Maulana Abul Kalam Azad (MAKA) Trophy
The Maulana Abul Kalam Azad (MAKA) Trophy is awarded to the top-performing university at the Khelo India University Games. In 2024, the winners were:
- Chandigarh University – Overall Winner
- Lovely Professional University (Punjab) – 1st Runner-Up
- Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar – 2nd Runner-Up
Conclusion
The National Sports Awards 2024 serve to acknowledge and celebrate the remarkable achievements of athletes, coaches, and institutions in India. These awards highlight India’s growing strength in sports and inspire future generations to pursue excellence. Whether it’s an athlete breaking records, a coach nurturing talent, or a university fostering sports at the grassroots level, these awards encourage all to contribute to the nation’s sporting success.