By edukalive 
The Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports has brought forward a moment of pride and celebration for India’s sports community. The National Sports Awards 2024 have been announced, recognizing the extraordinary talent, determination, and achievements of Indian sportspersons and their mentors. These awards not only celebrate past victories but also inspire a future of excellence and dedication.
A. Honoring the Champions: Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award 2024
At the pinnacle of sports accolades stands the Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award, bestowed upon individuals for their outstanding performances over the last four years. This year, the spotlight shines on:
| Gukesh D for his meteoric rise in Chess. | Harmanpreet Singh, who led Indian Hockey to new heights. |
| Praveen Kumar, a star in Para-Athletics. | Manu Bhaker, a force to reckon with in Shooting. |
Their commitment and resilience remind us of the power of dedication and the heights it can achieve.
B. The Arjuna Awards: Celebrating Skill and Spirit
The Arjuna Awards recognize consistent excellence across various sports disciplines. This year’s list features remarkable names, from Jyothi Yarraji and Annu Rani in Athletics to Abhay Singh in Squash. The inclusion of rising stars like Salima Tete in Hockey and Manisha Ramadass in Para-Badminton signals a promising future for Indian sports.
| S. No. | Name of the Sportsperson | Discipline |
| 1 | Ms. Jyothi Yarraji | Athletics |
| 2 | Ms. Annu Rani | Athletics |
| 3 | Ms. Nitu | Boxing |
| 4 | Ms. Saweety | Boxing |
| 5 | Ms. Vantika Agrawal | Chess |
| 6 | Ms. Salima Tete | Hockey |
| 7 | Shri Abhishek | Hockey |
| 8 | Shri Sanjay | Hockey |
| 9 | Shri Jarmanpreet Singh | Hockey |
| 10 | Shri Sukhjeet Singh | Hockey |
| 11 | Shri Rakesh Kumar | Para-Archery |
| 12 | Ms. Preeti Pal | Para-Athletics |
| 13 | Ms. Jeevanji Deepthi | Para-Athletics |
| 14 | Shri Ajeet Singh | Para-Athletics |
| 15 | Shri Sachin Sarjerao Khilari | Para-Athletics |
| 16 | Shri Dharambir | Para-Athletics |
| 17 | Shri Pranav Soorma | Para-Athletics |
| 18 | Shri H Hokato Sema | Para-Athletics |
| 19 | Ms. Simran | Para-Athletics |
| 20 | Shri Navdeep | Para-Athletics |
| 21 | Shri Nitesh Kumar | Para-Badminton |
| 22 | Ms. Thulasimathi Murugesan | Para-Badminton |
| 23 | Ms. Nithya Sre Sumathy Sivan | Para-Badminton |
| 24 | Ms. Manisha Ramadass | Para-Badminton |
| 25 | Shri Kapil Parmar | Para-Judo |
| 26 | Ms. Mona Agarwal | Para-Shooting |
| 27 | Ms. Rubina Francis | Para-Shooting |
| 28 | Shri Swapnil Suresh Kusale | Shooting |
| 29 | Shri Sarabjot Singh | Shooting |
| 30 | Shri Abhay Singh | Squash |
| 31 | Shri Sajan Prakash | Swimming |
| 32 | Shri Aman | Wrestling |
C. Lifetime Contributions: Arjuna Awards (Lifetime) and Dronacharya Awards
Sportspersons such as Sucha Singh (Athletics) and Murlikant Petkar (Para-Swimming) were honored with the Lifetime Arjuna Awards for their enduring contributions to Indian sports. Coaches like S Muralidharan in Badminton and Armando Colaco in Football received the Dronacharya Award for their unrelenting mentorship, shaping champions of tomorrow.
Dronacharya Awards-2024
| S. No. | Name of the Coach | Discipline | Category |
| 1 | Shri Subhash Rana | Para-Shooting | Regular |
| 2 | Ms. Deepali Deshpande | Shooting | Regular |
| 3 | Shri Sandeep Sangwan | Hockey | Regular |
| 4 | Shri S Muralidharan | Badminton | Lifetime |
| 5 | Shri Armando Agnelo Colaco | Football | Lifetime |
D. Institutions that Inspire
Not just individuals, but institutions like the Physical Education Foundation of India, recognized through the Rashtriya Khel Protsahan Puraskar, and Chandigarh University, the overall winner of the prestigious MAKA Trophy, are pivotal in nurturing talent.
Maulana Abul Kalam Azad (MAKA) Trophy 2024:
| S. No. | Name of University | Rank |
| 1 | Chandigarh University | Overall Winner |
| 2 | Lovely Professional University (PB) | 1st Runner-Up |
| 3 | Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar | 2nd Runner-Up |
E. The Spirit of the Awards
Each award symbolizes the undying spirit of sportsmanship, discipline, and perseverance. These accolades inspire not only the recipients but also the next generation of athletes dreaming of representing India on the world stage.
The National Sports Awards 2024 will be presented by the President of India on January 17, 2025, at the iconic Rashtrapati Bhavan. It’s a moment to celebrate, applaud, and cheer for our champions who embody the soul of India’s sporting spirit.
Let us honor these trailblazers and reflect on how their stories inspire us to strive for greatness in our own journeys.
Source:: https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2089557