The prestigious Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Awards was given to 12 sportspersons for their outstanding contribution in the field of sports. Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Awards was recently renamed as Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award. The President of India honoured the noted sportspersons from different categories, Olympians and Paralympians. A special function was organized on 13th November 2021, at the Darbar Hall of the Rashtrapati Bhavan, Delhi.
The National Sports Awards are announced by the Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports. These awards are given to recognize and reward excellence in the field of Sports. Every year Government of India announces these prestigious awards and all the sportspersons live the dream of achieving the national award.
National sports awards are given to the sportspersons for their spectacular performance in their respective sports over the period of four years. The concerned sports authority sends a recommendation to the Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports. After that, a jury constituted by the Ministry finalizes the names of the finalists and awards are announced to the most deserving candidates.
Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Awards are so popular and questions based on national awards are often asked in different competitive exams. Keeping in view of the importance of these awards, the list of winners, eligibility, and objective and selection process etc. have been discussed in this article below.
Table of Contents
The objective of the National Sports Award
- To recognize the spectacular and out of the box performance by the sportspersons in their respective sport.
- The jury analyzes the last four years performance of the sportsperson and accordingly final decision is taken.
- The performance in different events like Olympic Games, Commonwealth Games, Asian Games and world events is considered for the final selection of the sports award.
Eligibility Criteria for Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award
- Spectacular and outstanding performance in the sports events like Olympic, Asian Games, Commonwealth Games, World Sports events and other international events in the last four years.
- The achievement of the sportspersons in the year of Olympic Games, Commonwealth Games, World Events and Asian Games are considered for selecting the deserving candidates.
- Those who are found guilty, penalized or against whom an inquiry is pending/ongoing, cannot be considered for this prestigious awards.
Who Can Nominate the Sportspersons?
The concerned organization of different sports can nominate the extraordinary sports persons based on their performance in the last four years: Check the following information in this regard:
- Indian Olympic Association through its President/Secretary-General
- National Sports Federations through its President/Secretary-General
- Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) through its President/Secretary
- State/UT Governments/Sports Control/ Promotion Boards through an officer not less than the rank of Secretary or Director (Sports).
List of Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Awards Winners 2021
The list of Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Awardees for the year 2021 is given below:
| S.No. | Name of the Sportsperson | Sports |
| 1. | Neeraj Chopra | Athletics |
| 2. | Sunil Chhetri | Football |
| 3. | Lovlina Borgohain | Boxing |
| 4. | Ravi Kumar | Wrestling |
| 5. | Sreejesh P.R | Hockey |
| 6. | Manpreet Singh | Hockey |
| 7. | Avani Lekhara | Para Shooting |
| 8. | Sumit Antil | Para Athletics |
| 9. | Krishna Nagar | Para Badminton |
| 10. | Pramod Bhagat | Para Badminton |
| 11. | Manish Narwal | Para Shooting |
| 12. | Mithali Raj | Cricket |
List of Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Awards Winners 2020
| S.No. | Name of the Sportsperson | Sports |
| 1. | Shri Rohit Sharma | Cricket |
| 2. | Shri Mariyappan T. | Para Athletics |
| 3. | Ms. Manika Batra | Table Tennis |
| 4. | Ms. Vinesh | Wrestling |
| 5. | Ms. Rani | Hockey |
List of Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award Winners 2019
| S.No. | Name of the Sportsperson | Sports |
| 1. | Sh. Bajrang Punia | Wrestling |
| 2. | Ms. Deepa Malik | Para Athletics |
List of Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award Winners 2018
| S.No. | Name of the Sportsperson | Sports |
| 1. | Ms. S. Mirabai Chanu | Weightlifting |
| 2. | Shri Virat Kohli | Cricket |
Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award Winners 2017
| S.No. | Name of the Sportsperson | Sports |
| 1. | Shri Devendra | Para Athlete |
| 2. | Shri Sardar Singh | Hockey |
Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Awards Winners 2016
| S.No. | Name of the Sportsperson | Sports |
| 1. | Ms. P.V. Sindhu | Badminton |
| 2. | Ms. Dipa Karmakar | Gymnastics |
| 3. | Shri Jitu Rai | Shooting |
| 4. | Ms. Sakshi Malik | Wrestling |
Final Remarks
The Khel Ratna Awards are the prestigious awards to recognize the dedication and achievement of the sportspersons. The objective of the National Sports awards is also to motivate people to do well in the sports for the country. An outstanding contribution of the sportspersons not only benefits them but also benefits the country and aspiring sports students.
The life of a sportsperson always inspires people to learn lessons on how to achieve goals even with odds. Determination, grit and a high spirit are the key characters of a real sportsman or sportswoman.
India is the second-largest country in terms of population after China. But, when we talk about sports, a long journey is ahead. Sports infrastructure and basic facility to promote a rural and district level is the need of the hour. Sports unite the people and country. Every person has a different speciality, one needs to identify that one. Hence, always believe in yourself and keep focusing on your goal.
The questions based on National Sports Awards or Rajiv Gandhi National Sports award winners are always asked in different recruitment and competitive exams. Hence, the aspirants should be aware of the latest information on these awards.