Applications open for India’s top sports awards

The Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, Government of India, has invited online applications for the prestigious National Sports Awards, recognizing outstanding talent in the country’s sports arena. Interested and eligible athletes, coaches, and institutions can submit their applications through the official government portal www.dbtyas-sports.gov.in by October 28.

The highest honor among these awards is the Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award, presented to athletes for exceptional performance. Recipients of this award receive a cash prize of ₹25 lakh, along with a medal and a citation. Another prominent award, the Arjuna Award, is also conferred to athletes, carrying a cash prize of ₹15 lakh. These awards are usually presented by the President of India at the Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi.

Eligibility Criteria: To be considered for the Khel Ratna and Arjuna Awards, athletes must have demonstrated outstanding performance over the previous four years. Achievements from January 1, 2021, to December 31, 2024, in competitions such as the Olympics, Paralympics, Asian Games, Commonwealth Games, World Cups, World Championships, and other recognized international tournaments, will be taken into account.

Other Awards:

• Dronacharya Award: Conferred to coaches whose trainees have won medals in prestigious competitions.

• Lifetime Arjuna Award: Granted to individuals who have contributed significantly to sports development over their lifetime.

Athletes serving doping bans can only apply after completing their suspension, and achievements during the period of suspension will not be considered. Applications from athletes with pending investigations are also ineligible.

Applications are reviewed by a screening committee consisting of the Joint Secretary (Sports), Secretary of the Sports Authority of India (SAI), and other senior officials, along with reports from National Sports Federations and SAI.

Notable Previous Winners: Last year, Chess World Champion D. Gukesh, shooter Manu Bhaker, and hockey star Harmanpreet Singh were among the four athletes awarded the Khel Ratna. Notably, in recognition of outstanding achievements at the Paris Paralympics, 17 of the 32 Arjuna Award recipients were para-athletes.