President of India to Present Awards on January 17, 2025
List of Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award and Arjuna Awards 2024: The Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports announced the prestigious National Sports Awards 2024 today. The awards will be presented by the Honorable President of India at a grand ceremony in Rashtrapati Bhavan on Friday, January 17, 2025, at 11:00 AM.
These awards recognize and reward outstanding contributions in the field of sports by sportspersons, coaches, universities, and organizations. The recipients were selected based on the recommendations of a distinguished committee led by Justice (Retd.) V. Ramasubramanian of the Supreme Court of India, alongside eminent sportspersons, sports journalists, and administrators.
Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award 2024
The highest honor in Indian sports, this award is presented for spectacular and outstanding performance over the previous four years.
Awardees:
- Gukesh D - Chess
- Harmanpreet Singh - Hockey
- Praveen Kumar - Para-Athletics
- Manu Bhakar - Shooting
Arjuna Awards for Outstanding Performance in Sports and Games 2024
Recognizing consistent performances and exemplary qualities of leadership, sportsmanship, and discipline, the Arjuna Awards were conferred upon the following athletes:
Athletics:
- Jyothi Yarraji
- Annu Rani
Boxing:
- Nitu
- Saweety
Chess:
- Vantika Agrawal
Hockey:
- Salima Tete
- Abhishek
- Sanjay
- Jarmanpreet Singh
- Sukhjeet Singh
Para-Sports:
- Several athletes, including Ms. Preeti Pal, Shri Ajeet Singh, and Ms. Rubina Francis, were recognized for their exceptional performances in Para-Athletics, Para-Badminton, and Para-Shooting.
Other Disciplines:
- Swapnil Suresh Kusale (Shooting)
- Sajan Prakash (Swimming)
- Aman (Wrestling)
Arjuna Award (Lifetime) for Outstanding Performance
Two legendary athletes were honored for their lifelong contributions to Indian sports:
- Sucha Singh - Athletics
- Murlikant Rajaram Petkar - Para-Swimming
Dronacharya Award for Outstanding Coaches in Sports and Games 2024
Recognizing excellence in coaching, the following individuals were awarded:
Regular Category:
- Subhash Rana - Para-Shooting
- Deepali Deshpande - Shooting
- Sandeep Sangwan - Hockey
Lifetime Category:
- S Muralidharan - Badminton
- Armando Agnelo Colaco - Football
Rashtriya Khel Protsahan Puraskar 2024
- Physical Education Foundation of India was honored for its contribution to the promotion of sports.
Maulana Abul Kalam Azad (MAKA) Trophy 2024
This prestigious award for the top-performing universities in the Khelo India University Games was awarded to:
- Chandigarh University - Overall Winner
- Lovely Professional University (Punjab) - 1st Runner-Up
- Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar - 2nd Runner-Up
The National Sports Awards serve as a testament to India's thriving sports culture and the dedication of its athletes, coaches, and institutions. Congratulations to all the winners who inspire the nation with their passion and excellence!
