Ananya Gupta
September 29, 2023 12:18
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Discover the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award, India's highest sporting honor, now known as the Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award. Explore Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award history, eligibility criteria, recipients, and significance in Indian sports.
The Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award stands as India’s premier sporting honor, celebrating excellence in athletics. Previously known as the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award in Sports and Games, it remains a symbol of recognition and reward for exceptional athletic accomplishments. Administered annually by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, this accolade carries a substantial reward of Rs. 25 lakh in cash, along with a medal and certificate. To gain a comprehensive understanding of the Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award, including details about past awardees, eligibility criteria, nomination procedures, and additional information, continue reading below.
The Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award is the highest sporting honor in India. It was formerly known as the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award in Sports and Games. This prestigious award is presented annually by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports to recognize and reward outstanding achievements in the field of sports.
Recipients of the Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award receive a cash prize of Rs. 25 lakh, a medal, and a certificate. The award is named after Major Dhyan Chand, one of India’s greatest hockey players, who is often regarded as one of the best field hockey players of all time.
The Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award is a way to honor and encourage athletes who have consistently excelled at the highest level of their respective sports and have brought glory to India on the international stage. It serves as a source of inspiration for aspiring athletes and a recognition of the dedication and hard work put in by the awardees to excel in their sporting careers.
The eligibility criteria for the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award, which is now officially known as the Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award, have evolved over the years.
1. Outstanding International Performance: Athletes must have demonstrated exceptional performance consistently in international competitions over the preceding four years. These competitions should be on par with events like the Olympics, Asian Games, Commonwealth Games, World Championships, and World Cup.
2. Consideration of Accomplishments: The accomplishments of athletes in these events, as well as in other competitions leading up to the conclusion of events such as the Olympic Games, Commonwealth Games, or Asian Games, may be taken into account during the years when these significant competitions are held.
3. Clean Anti-Doping Record: Sportspersons who are under investigation or have pending inquiries for the use of banned substances and drugs are not eligible to be considered for the Khel Ratna Award.
These criteria are pivotal in determining the eligibility of athletes for this prestigious award, ensuring that recipients are recognized for their exceptional sporting achievements while upholding the principles of fair play and integrity in sports.
The Khel Ratna Award, which is now officially known as the Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award, serves several important objectives in the field of sports and games in India. Some of its key objectives include:
1. Recognizing Sporting Excellence: The primary objective of the award is to recognize and honor athletes and sports personalities who have achieved outstanding excellence and distinction in their respective sports at the international level.
2. Motivating Athletes: By celebrating and rewarding exceptional sporting accomplishments, the award aims to motivate athletes to strive for excellence, push their limits, and continue to represent India at the highest levels of competition.
3. Inspiring Future Generations: The achievements of Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna awardees serve as an inspiration for aspiring athletes and the youth of the country, encouraging them to take up sports and pursue excellence in their chosen disciplines.
4. Promoting Sports: The award also recognizes the importance of promoting and nurturing sports talent in India. It encourages the development of sports infrastructure, training programs, and support systems to groom athletes to compete on the global stage.
5. National Pride: It instills a sense of national pride by celebrating the achievements of athletes who have brought glory to the country through their exceptional performances on the international stage.
6. Setting High Standards: The award sets high standards for sporting achievement, fostering a culture of excellence and competitiveness in Indian sports.
7. Diversity in Sports: By honoring athletes from a wide range of sports disciplines, the award promotes diversity in sports and recognizes talent across various sporting categories.
8. Acknowledging Contributions: In addition to individual sporting achievements, the award also acknowledges the contributions made by athletes to the overall development and promotion of sports in India.
9. Remembering Major Dhyan Chand: Renaming the award as the Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award pays tribute to one of India’s greatest hockey players and reinforces the importance of honoring sporting legends and their legacies.
The selection process for the Khel Ratna Award, now officially known as the Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award, involves several steps and is overseen by a selection committee. The following outlines the general selection process:
1. Nominations: The first step in the selection process involves the submission of nominations. Nominations can be made by the concerned National Sports Federations (NSFs), the Indian Olympic Association (IOA), and the Sports Authority of India (SAI). These organizations put forward the names of eligible athletes for consideration.
2. Evaluation Committee: A selection committee is formed, typically comprising eminent sports personalities, government officials, and sports administrators. This committee is responsible for reviewing the nominations and selecting the awardees.
3. Criteria Assessment: The committee evaluates the nominees based on established criteria, including their sporting achievements and performance at the international level over the preceding four years. Athletes who have excelled in events similar in stature to the Olympics, Asian Games, Commonwealth Games, World Championships, and World Cup are given preference.
4. Contribution to Sports: In addition to individual sporting achievements, the committee also considers the nominee’s contribution to the promotion and development of sports in India. This may include mentoring, coaching, and other efforts to support and nurture emerging talent.
5. Anti-Doping Compliance: Athletes who are under investigation or have pending inquiries for the use of banned substances and drugs are not eligible for the award. A clean anti-doping record is an essential criterion.
6. Recommendations: Based on their evaluation, the selection committee makes recommendations for the Khel Ratna Award to the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports.
7. Final Approval: The Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports reviews the recommendations and gives the final approval for the award.
8. Announcement and Presentation: Once the final selections are made and approved, the names of the awardees are officially announced. The award is typically presented on National Sports Day, celebrated on August 29th each year, to coincide with the birth anniversary of Major Dhyan Chand.
Here is the procedure for nominations for the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award:
The first person of the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award was Vishwanathan Anand, the renowned Indian chess grandmaster. He was honored with this prestigious award in the year 1991-1992 for his exceptional contributions to the sport of chess and his outstanding performances on the international stage. Vishwanathan Anand’s achievements in chess have made him a legendary figure in Indian sports, and he continues to inspire aspiring chess players and athletes across the country.
Here is the information about the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award and its history:
1. Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award: Honoring Excellence in Sports
The Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award is India’s most prestigious sporting accolade, a testament to the outstanding achievements of athletes in their respective sports. These athletes have consistently demonstrated excellence in recent years, earning them the honor of this prestigious award.
2. The Renaming of the Award: A Tribute to Major Dhyan Chand
Starting from August 6, 2021, the award has been renamed after Major Dhyan Chand (1905-1979), an iconic Indian hockey player celebrated as one of the sport’s all-time greats. Major Dhyan Chand’s legendary career spanned over two decades, from 1926 to 1948, during which he scored more than 1,000 goals.
3. Historical Recipients: From Viswanathan Anand to Abhinav Bindra
The first recipient of the award was Viswanathan Anand, recognized for his exceptional contributions in 1991-1992. Abhinav Bindra, a remarkable shooter who achieved this honor at the young age of 18, was conferred the award in 2001. While typically only one athlete is chosen for the award each year, there have been exceptions in the following years: 1993-1994, 2002, 2009, 2012, and 2016-2021.
4. Diverse Sporting Excellence: The Khel Ratna Awardees
As of 2021, the list of Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna award winners includes extraordinary athletes from various disciplines, representing a diverse range of sports. These sports include Athletics, Billiards, Badminton, Boxing, Cricket, Chess, Gymnastics, Field Hockey, Para Athletics, Para Shooting, Para-Badminton, Snooker, Shooting, Tennis, Table Tennis, Weightlifting, Wrestling, and Yacht Racing, among others.
It’s worth noting that there have been 57 Paralympic awardees across these sporting categories, highlighting the inclusive nature of the award and its recognition of excellence in both Olympic and Paralympic sports. These awardees serve as an inspiration to aspiring athletes across the nation, showcasing the pinnacle of sporting achievement in India.
The Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award for the year 2022 was jointly awarded to two exceptional Indian athletes: Rohit Sharma, a prominent cricketer, and Vinesh Phogat, a distinguished wrestler. Rohit Sharma is renowned as a top-order batsman and has served as one of India’s most successful cricket captains. On the other hand, Vinesh Phogat is a top-ranked wrestler with an impressive track record of winning multiple international medals for India. Both athletes were selected for this prestigious honor in recognition of their outstanding performances in their respective sports during the past year.
The Rajiv Gandhi Award, India’s highest sporting accolade, is presented annually to athletes who have achieved remarkable excellence in their respective fields.
Originally established in the 1991-1992 season, the award initially considered a sportsperson’s performance over a single year. However, in 2014, the Ministry made an important amendment to the criteria, taking into account achievements over a four-year period. Nominations are accepted for a specific year until April 30th, or the last working day of April, with a maximum of two athletes per athletic discipline.
A distinguished 12-member committee evaluates each sportsperson’s performance in various international competitions, including events like the Paralympic Games, Olympic Games, Commonwealth Games, and Asian Games.
Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award committee forwards its recommendations to the Union Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports for the final approval. This prestigious award, given annually from 1991 to 2021, is named after Rajiv Gandhi, a former Prime Minister of India.
For a comprehensive list of Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award winners from 2022 onwards, please refer to the updated list below, which will be kept current as new awardees are announced.
| Discipline | Name of Awardee |
|---|---|
| Athletics | Ms Ashwini Akkunji C |
| Hockey | Shri Dharamvir Singh |
| Kabaddi | Shri B.C Suresh |
| Para Athletics | Shri Nir Bahadur Gurung |
Here are the names of the twelve athletes from various sports who received the Rajiv Gandhi Award in 2021, along with their respective sports categories:
| Name of the Sportsperson | Category |
|---|---|
| Manpreet Singh | Hockey |
| Sunil Chhetri | Football |
| Mithali Raj | Cricket |
| Krishna Nagar | Para – Badmitton |
| Manish Narwal | Para – Shooting |
| Sumit Antil | Para Athletics |
| Neeraj Chopra | Athletics |
| Ravi Kumar | Wrestling |
| Sreejesh P.R | Hockey |
| Lovlina Borgohain | Boxing |
| Avani Lekhara | Para – Shooting |
| Pramod Bhagat | Para-Badminton |
The Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award is India’s highest sporting honor, awarded annually by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, Government of India. It is named in memory of former Prime Minister of India, Rajiv Gandhi, and is presented to athletes and sports personalities who have made outstanding and consistent contributions to their respective sports.
Here is a List of Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award Winners from 1991 to 2020
| List of Khel Ratna Award Winners | ||
|---|---|---|
| Sport | Name | Years |
| Chess | Viswanathan Anand | 1991-1992 |
| Billiards | Geet Sethi | 1992-1993 |
| Yachting (Team Event) | Homi Motivala | 1993-1994 |
| Yachting (Team Event) | Pushpendra Kumar Garg | 1994-1995 |
| Weightlifting | Karnam Malleswari | 1995-1996 |
| Weightlifting | Nameirakpam Kunjarani | 1996-1997 |
| Tennis | Leander Paes | 1996-1998 |
| Cricket | Sachin Tendulkar | 1998-1999 |
| Athletics | Jyotirmoyee Sikdar | 1999-2000 |
| Hockey | Dhanraj Pillay | 2000-2001 |
| Badminton | Pullela Gopichand | 2000-2001 |
| Shooting | Abhinav Bindra | 2001 |
| Athletics | K. M. Beenamol | 2002 |
| Shooting | Anjali Bhagwat | 2002 |
| Athletics | Anju Bobby George | 2003 |
| Shooting | Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore | 2004 |
| Snooker and Billiards | Pankaj Advani | 2005 |
| Shooting | Manavjit Singh Sandhu | 2006 |
| Cricket | Mahendra Singh Dhoni | 2007 |
| No Award | 2008 | |
| Boxing | Marry Kom | 2009 |
| Boxing | Vijender Singh | 2009 |
| Freestyle wrestling | Sushil Kumar | 2009 |
| Badminton | Saina Nehwal | 2010 |
| Shooting | Gagan Narang | 2011 |
| Shooting | Vijay Kumar | 2012 |
| Freestyle wrestling | Yogeshwar Dutt | 2012 |
| Shooting | Ronjan Sodhi | 2012 |
| No Award | 2014 | |
| Tennis | Sania Mirza | 2015 |
| Badminton | P. V. Sindhu | 2016 |
| Gymnastics | Dipa Karmakar | 2016 |
| Shooting | Jitu Rai | 2016 |
| Freestyle wrestling | Sakshi Malik | 2016 |
| Paralympic javelin | Devendra Jhajharia | 2017 |
| Hockey | Sardara Singh | 2017 |
| Weightlifting | Saikhom Mirabai Chanu | 2018 |
| Cricket | Virat Kohli | 2018 |
| Paralympic (shot put, javelin, others) | Deepa Malik | 2019 |
| Freestyle wrestling | Bajrang Punia | 2019 |
| Cricket | Rohit Sharma | 2020 |
| Paralympic high jump | Mariyappan Thangavelu | 2020 |
| Table tennis | Manika Batra | 2020 |
| Freestyle wrestling | Vinesh Phogat | 2020 |
| Hockey | Rani Rampal | 2020 |
The highest sporting honor in India is officially designated as the Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award, also referred to as the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award in Sports and Games.
The announcement for the Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award for 2023 is eagerly awaited, as it remains pending. This prestigious accolade stands as the highest honor in Indian sports and is presented annually to recognize outstanding achievements and excellence within the sports arena.
An esteemed selection committee convenes each year to meticulously assess the performances and accomplishments of athletes representing a diverse range of sports disciplines. Their meticulous evaluation leads to the selection of the deserving recipient(s) of the Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award.
Traditionally, this highly anticipated award is unveiled and conferred on the auspicious occasion of National Sports Day, which is celebrated on the 29th of August every year in India. This day serves as a fitting tribute to the legacy of Major Dhyan Chand, one of the greatest hockey players in history, and underscores the nation’s commitment to celebrating and honoring its sports heroes.
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