The Ministry of Sports has announced significant changes to the national sports awards system, discontinuing the Dhyan Chand Award for lifetime achievement and introducing the Arjuna Award Lifetime in its place. This move aims to streamline and rationalize the various sporting honors bestowed in India.
The Dhyan Chand Lifetime Award, established in 2002 and named after the legendary hockey player, recognized individuals for their exceptional contributions to sports disciplines featured in major international events such as the Olympics, Paralympics, Asian Games, and Commonwealth Games. In 2023, the award was presented to former badminton player Manjusha Kanwar, ex-hockey star Vineet Kumar, and kabaddi player Kavitha Selvaraj.
To further recognize the efforts of coaches at the grassroots and development levels, the Dronacharya Award will now be open to them. Additionally, the Maulana Abdul Kalam Azad (MAKA) Trophy will be awarded to the university with the best overall performance in the Khelo India University Games, acknowledging the importance of the Khelo India scheme.
The Arjuna Award Lifetime will be presented for outstanding lifetime contributions to sports development. The last date for submitting applications for the 2024 national sports awards is November 14.
This rationalization of the awards system aims to ensure that all deserving individuals and organizations are recognized for their contributions to Indian sports. The changes will also help to streamline the process and make it more transparent and efficient.
