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It is a dream of every player to make his/her nation proud at the highest level. In India, Sports Ministry felicitates those players every year who have performed extraordinarily in their field of sport. These awards are given to boost the morale of the player so that he/she can perform even better in future tournaments.These awards are given to recognize the achievements of players on National Sports Day which is celebrated on 29th August i.e on the birth date of the Indian Hockey maestro Dhyanchand. The awards are given at the Rashtrapati Bhawan in New Delhi by the President of India.So let’s have a look at the awards and few notable players who have achieved these awards:-
#1 Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award
The Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna award is India’s highest honour given for achievement in sports. Khel Ratna in hindi term means "sports prodigy."
The awards which were named after late prime minister Rajiv Gandhi are awarded to individual sportspersons or a sports team giving the most spectacular and outstanding performance in sports disciplines from 1st April to 31st March.
Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna (RGKR) awards were first awarded in the year 1991-92 and the first player to receive this award was the Chess Grandmaster Viswanathan Anand. No player can receive this award more than once in his lifetime.
RGKR award includes a cash prize of Rs 750,000, a medal, a scroll of honour and a blazer. Nominations are sent by various sports bodies like Sports Authority of India, state governments, national sports federations etc on or before 31st May.
The person or the team receiving this award is finalised by the Sports Ministry of India.
FACTS
First winner- Viswanathan Anand for Chess (1991-92)
First team to win this award - Homi D motivala and P.K Garg for Yachting(1994-95)
Three players (most) won this award in 2008-09 - Mary Kom(Boxing), Vijender Singh(Boxing) and Sushil Kumar (Wrestling).
Recent awardee - Ronjan Singh Sodhi for Shooting (2012-13)
Youngest awardee - Saina Nehwal for Badminton at the age of 20 (2009-2010).
No player won this award last year
#2 Arjuna Award
Arjuna Awards which were named after Arjun, the Pandava Brother of Mahabharata fame, were started in the year 1961. Arjuna Awards,which are the second most prestigious award after Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna were the highest recognizable award for a sportsperson for almost 30 years.
The awards are given to those players who have performed outstandingly well at the Olympics, Asian Games, Commonwealth Games, World Cup, World Championships disciplines, cricket, indigeneous games and for the physically challenged. Player should have performed consistently well at the International level for three years.
Nominations from different state sports ministries, national sports federations are sent to the ministry of Sports on or before 31st May. Selection commitee consisting of 13 members (1 chairperson, 5 Olympians,4 Arjuna Awardees from different disciplines, 2 Sports Administrators and a Member-Secretary of the Committee) decide the names of players who will receive the award on National Sports Day.
Arjuna awardees are presented with a cash prize of Rs 500,000,a bronze statue of Arjuna and a scroll of honor.
FACTS
16 players won this Award in 1961
1st Cricketer to win this award - Saleem Durani
1st badminton player to win this award- Nandu Natekar
1st football player to win this award - P.K Banerjee
1st Hockey player to win this award - Prithipal Singh
In 2012, 25 sportspersons(most) were conferred with the Arjuna award.
#3 Dhyan Chand Award
Dhyan Chand awards were started in the year 2002 and is nation's highest award for lifetime achievement in sports and games. The award is named after ‘the wizard’ Major Dhyan Chand. who played his final international match in 1948. He scored more than 400 goals during his international career.
The receipent of this award gets a cash prize of Rs. 500,000, a statuette, blazer and a scroll of honour. This award can also be given to individuals or the NGOs, who have played a role in the growth of sports in the country.
Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports received nominations from various organisations along with their past playing and coaching record. A committee of 9 members includes one chairperson and other sportspersons.
FACTS
First three persons to receive Dhyan Chand award – Aparna Ghosh(basketball), Ashok Diwan(hockey) and Shahuraj Birajjdar(boxing).
Latest to win this award(2014)- Zeeshan Ali (tennis), Gurmail Singh(hockey) and K.P Thakkar(swimming and diving).
#4 Dronacharya award
Started in the year 1985, Dronacharya awards are given to honour eminent coaches, trainers and instructors who have done an excellent job in promoting the status of sports in the country. The main aim of this award is to motivate and inspire coaches and trainers to work with more dedication and impulsion.
The award includes a ceremonial dress, a scroll of honor, a plaque, a cash prize of Rs. 500,000 and a blazer. The award is given to only those coaches who have produced outstanding results at the domestic and International level for three consecutive years.
The nominations for Dronacharya Award are invited by Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports every year in the month of January.
FACTS
First three players to win this award- O.M Nambiar (Athletics), Om Prakash Bharadwaj (Boxing) and Bhalchandra Bhaskar Bhagwat (Wrestling)
First cricket coach to win this award- Desh Prem Azad (1986)
First football coach to win this award- Syed Naeemuddin (1990)
No sportsperson won this award in 1988,1989,1991,1992,1993 and 2008
Recent coaches to win this award- Jose Jacob (Rowing) and N. Lingappa (Athletics)
#5 Maulana Abul Kalam Azad Award
Maulana Abul Kalam Azad Award or the MAKA award is given to the university, which has given the best all round performance during the year of award. The main aim of this award is to bring forward talented players present in the colleges and universities.
This award was first given to Bombay University in 1956-57
The All India University Committee selects universities on the basis of their performances in the last one year. The names are then forwarded to Ministry of Youth and Sports which then ultimately decides the winner.
Winner receives a replica of a trophy and a cash prize of Rs. 10,000,00. This money is given to the university with the aim of nurturing talent and buying the required sports equipments for the players.
FACTS
First winner- Bombay University (1956-57)
Last winner – Punjab University,Patiala 2014
Most number of times- Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar (22)
#6 Padma Awards
Padma Awards are one of the highest civilian awards in the nation. Padma Awards are categorised in three categories namey Padma Shri, Padma Bhushan and Padma Vibhushan.
These awards were stared in the year 1954 and are announced every year on Republic day. These awards are given to those persons who have done exceptionally well in their fields. The awards are given in either March or April in the fields of Art, Literature and Education, Sports, Medicine, Social Work, Science and Engineering, Public Affairs, Civil Service, Trade and Industry etc. As per the norms, there has to be a gap of at least five years between two Padma awards to the same person.
A number of sports persons have received the Padma Awards till date. So let’s have a look :
Padma Shri
Padma Shri is the fourth highest civilian award in India. As of 2014, 2679 people have received the award. In 2015, 75 people will be conferred with this award, 4 will be sports persons.
Players whose will receive this award in 2015- P.V Sindhu (Badminton), Sardara Singh (Hockey), Saba Anjum (Hockey) and Arunima Sinha (First female amputee to climb Mount Everest)
First player to receive this award- Balbir Singh for Hockey (1957)
Second player to receive this award- Kunwar Digvijay Singh for Hockey (1958)
Padma Bhushan
The Padma Bhushan is the third highest civilian in the Republic of India, after the Bharat Ratna and the Padma Vibhushan. Till now a total of 1229 people have received this award. 20 persons were nominated for this award on 26th January 2015.
Satpal Singh (wrestling coach) will receive this award in 2015
Dhyan Chand (Hockey) and C.K Nayudu (Cricket) were the first sports players to receive this award in 1956.
Padma Vibhushan
Padma Vibhushan is the second highest civilian award in India. It is awarded to recognize the exceptional and distinguished service to the nation in any field, including government service.
As of now a total of 303 people have won this award.
Till now only two sports players have won the Padma Vibhushan Award and they are :-
Sachin Tendulkar for Cricket (2008)
Viswanathan Anand for Chess (2007)
#7 Bharat Ratna
The Bharat Ratna is the highest civilian award in the nation. The award honors people in recognition of exceptional service/performance of the highest order. Bharat Ratna was earlier limited to the fields of arts, literature, science and public services, but government of India expanded the criteria to include any field of human endeavour.
The recommendations are made by the Prime minister to the President. A maximum of 3 recommendations can be made each year.
Recipients receive a Sanad (certificate) signed by the President and a peepal-leaf–shaped medallion; there is no monetary grant associated with the award.e
Sachin Tendulkar is the only sportsperson to be conferred with the Bharat Ratna so far.
