The National Sports Awards in India are a set of honors presented annually to recognize and reward excellence in sports. These awards are conferred by the President of India at the Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi. The awards include different categories to acknowledge athletes, coaches, and sports administrators. Here is an overview of some prominent National Sports Awards:
Arjuna Award:
- This award is presented to recognize outstanding achievement in sports at the international level.
- It is given in various sports disciplines.
- Recipients receive a bronze statue of Arjuna, a certificate, and a cash prize.
The award is conferred for great performance over a time period of the last four years and for demonstrating qualities of sportsmanship, a sense of discipline, and leadership.
| Recipient | Sport |
|---|---|
| Ms. Aditi Gopichand Swami | Archery |
| Shri Ojas Pravin Deotale | Archery |
| Ms. Parul Chaudhary | Athletics |
| Shri Sreeshankar M | Athletics |
| Shri Mohameed Hussamuddin | Boxing |
| Shri Mohammed Shami | Cricket |
| Ms. R Vaishali | Chess |
| Ms. Divyakriti Singh | Equestrian Dressage |
| Shri Anush Agarwalla | Equestrian |
| Ms. Diksha Dagar | Golf |
| Ms. Pukhrambam Sushila Chanu | Hockey |
| Shri Krishan Bahadur Pathak | Hockey |
| Ms. Ritu Negi | Kabaddi |
| Shri Pawan Kumar | Kabaddi |
| Ms. Nasreen | Kho-Kho |
| Ms. Pinki | Lawn Bowls |
| Ms. Esha Singh | Shooting |
| Shri Aishwarya Pratap Singh Tomar | Shooting |
| Shri Harinder Pal Singh Sandhu | Squash |
| Ms. Ayhika Mukherjee | Table Tennis |
| Ms. Antim | Wrestling |
| Shri Sunil Kumar | Wrestling |
| Ms. Naorem Roshibina Devi | Wushu |
| Ms. Sheetal Devi | Para Archery |
| Shri Illuri Ajay Kumar Reddy | Blind Cricket |
| Ms. Prachi Yadav | Para Canoeing |
Dronacharya Award:
- This award is conferred on coaches for outstanding and meritorious work in sports coaching.
- It is presented in different categories: regular Dronacharya Award, Lifetime Dronacharya Award, and Dronacharya Award for Outstanding Achievement in Sports and Games.
This table showcases the recipients of the Dronacharya Award for 2023, distinguishing between those recognized in the regular category and those honored in the lifetime category, across various sports disciplines.
For the Regular Category:
| Recipient | Sport |
|---|---|
| Shri Lalit Kumar | Wrestling |
| Shri R. B. Ramesh | Chess |
| Shri Maheveer Prasad Saini | Para Athletics |
| Shri Shivendra Singh | Hockey |
| Shri Ganesh Prabhakar Devrukhkar | Mallakhamb |
For the Lifetime Category:
| Recipient | Sport |
|---|---|
| Shri Jashkirat Singh Grewal | Golf |
| Shri Bhaskaran E | Kabaddi |
| Shri Jayanta Kumar Pushilal | Table Tennis |
Dhyan Chand Award(Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award)
- This award is given for lifetime contribution to sports development.
- It is presented to athletes and sports personnel who have made significant contributions.
- Recipients receive a medal, a certificate, and a cash prize.
This table lists the recipients of the Dhyan Chand Award for 2023, recognizing their significant contributions to sports both during their active career and post-retirement.
| Recipient | Sport |
|---|---|
| Ms. Manjusha Kanwar | Badminton |
| Shri Vineet Kumar Sharma | Hockey |
| Ms. Kavitha Selvaraj | Kabaddi |
Maulana Abul Kalam Azad (MAKA) Trophy 2023:
Here’s the information about the Maulana Abul Kalam Azad (MAKA) Trophy 2023, formatted into a table:
| University | Achievement |
|---|---|
| Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar | Overall Winning University |
| Lovely Professional University, Punjab | 1st Runner-Up University |
| Kurukshetra University, Kurukshetra | 2nd Runner-Up University |
This table lists the universities that were recognized for their performance in inter-university tournaments, with Guru Nanak Dev University achieving the highest honor, followed by Lovely Professional University and Kurukshetra University as the first and second runners-up, respectively. The applications for these awards were submitted through an online portal, and the selection committee, headed by Justice A. M. Khanwilkar, a retired Judge of the Supreme Court of India, reviewed a large number of nominations. The committee included prominent sportspersons and individuals with significant experience in sports journalism.
