National Sports Awards 2024 Ceremony
The National Sports Awards 2024 ceremony, held at the prestigious Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi, was a celebration of India’s most outstanding athletes and coaches. Presided over by the President of India, Droupadi Murmu, the event honored exceptional performances across various sports.
Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award 2024 Recipients
The Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna is India’s highest sporting honor, awarded for the most spectacular and outstanding performances in sports over the previous four years. This year’s recipients included:
1. Manu Bhaker (Shooting): The 22-year-old made history at the Paris 2024 Olympics by becoming the first Indian woman to win an Olympic medal in shooting. She clinched a bronze in the women’s 10m air pistol event and another bronze in the 10m air pistol mixed team event with Sarabjot Singh, making her the first Indian athlete to win two medals at a single Olympic Games.
2. Harmanpreet Singh (Hockey): The Indian hockey team captain led his team to a second consecutive Olympic bronze at Paris 2024, finishing as the tournament’s top scorer with 10 goals.
3. Gukesh D (Chess): The 18-year-old prodigy became the youngest world chess champion in 2024, following in the footsteps of Viswanathan Anand. Gukesh also played a crucial role in India’s Chess Olympiad victory in Budapest.
4. Praveen Kumar (Para-Athletics): The para-athlete achieved gold in the men’s high jump T64 category at the Paris 2024 Paralympics, setting a new Asian record with a 2.08m leap.
Arjuna Award 2024 Winners | National Sports Awards 2024
The Arjuna Award recognizes consistent excellence and leadership in sports. This year, 34 athletes were honored, including:
- Jyothi Yarraji (Athletics)
- Annu Rani (Athletics)
- Vantika Agrawal (Chess)
- Salima Tete (Hockey)
- Swapnil Kusale and Sarabjot Singh (Shooting)
- Aman Sehrawat (Wrestling)
Notably, 18 para-athletes were among the recipients, outnumbering the regular athletes, highlighting India’s growing focus on inclusivity in sports.
Arjuna Award (Lifetime) 2024 Winners
The Lifetime Arjuna Award honors athletes who have not only excelled in their careers but also contributed to the promotion of sports post-retirement. The 2024 recipients were:
- Sucha Singh (Athletics)
- Murlikant Petkar (Para-Swimming)
Dronacharya Award 2024 Winners
The Dronacharya Award recognizes exceptional coaching contributions. This year’s honorees included:
- Subhash Rana (Para-Shooting)
- Deepali Deshpande (Shooting)
- S Muralidharan (Badminton) (Lifetime Category)
- Armando Colaco (Football) (Lifetime Category)
Other Recognitions
- Rashtriya Khel Protsahan Puraskar 2024: Awarded to the Physical Education Foundation of India for its contributions to sports promotion.
- Maulana Abul Kalam Azad Trophy: Chandigarh University emerged as the overall winner among universities, followed by Lovely Professional University and GuruNanak Dev University.
Selection Process
The awards were decided by a Selection Committee chaired by Justice (Retd.) V. Ramasubramanian of the Supreme Court of India, along with eminent sportspersons, sports journalists, and administrators.
Conclusion
The National Sports Awards 2024 highlighted India’s rich sporting talent and the hard work of athletes, para-athletes, and their coaches. These awards not only celebrate achievements but also inspire the next generation of athletes to aim for excellence on the global stage.