News Highlight:
- Recently, the National Sports Awards 2022 was announced by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports. The awardees will receive their awards from the President of India at a specially organised function at Rashtrapati Bhavan on 30th November 2022. National Sports Awards are given yearly to recognise and reward excellence in sports.
- Table tennis legend Achanta Sharath Kamal was given the Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna award for his outstanding performance in the Commonwealth Games 2022 by the President as part of the National Sports and Adventure Awards 2022.
Key Takeaway:
- Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award 2022 will be given to Sharath Kamal Achanta.
- 25 Sports persons will receive Arjuna Awards for outstanding performance in Sports and Games in 2022.
- Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar, was awarded the Maulana Abul Kalam Azad (MAKA) Trophy 2022.
The National Sports Awards of India comprise six different awards:
- Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award:
- It is given for the spectacular and most outstanding performance in the field of sports by a sportsperson over the previous four years.
- Formerly known as the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Rathna award is the highest sporting award by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports.
- Khel Ratna award was instituted from 1991 to 1992, and the 1st recipient was Chess legend, Viswanathan Anand.
- It carries a cash prize of Rs 25 lakh, a medal and a scroll of honour.
- Arjuna Award for outstanding performance in Sports and Games:
- This award is given for good performance over the previous four years and for showing qualities of leadership, sportsmanship and a sense of discipline.
- It was instituted in 1961 by the Government of India to recognise outstanding achievements in national sports events.
- The award carries a cash prize of Rs 15 lakh, a bronze statue of Arjuna and a scroll of honour.
- Dronacharya Award for outstanding coaches in Sports and Games:
- It is given to coaches for consistently doing outstanding and meritorious work and enabling sportspersons to excel in International events.
- It was instituted in 1985 by the Government of India to recognise excellence in sports coaching.
- It carries a cash prize of Rs 15 lakh, a bronze statue of Dronacharya and a scroll of honour.
- Dhyan Chand Award for Lifetime Achievement in Sports and Games:
- It is given to honour sportspersons who have contributed to sports through their performance and who continue to contribute to the promotion of sports events after their retirement.
- It was instituted in the year 2002 and comprised a Dhyan Chand statuette, a cash prize of Rs 10 lakh, a certificate and a ceremonial dress.
- Rashtriya Khel Protsahan Puruskar:
- This is given to corporate entities (both in the private and public sector), Sports Control Boards, NGOs, including sports bodies at the State and National level, who have played a visible role in the area of sports promotion and development.
- It was instituted in the year 2009.
- Maulana Abul Kalam Azad (MAKA) Trophy:
- It was instituted in the year 1956-1957.
- It is for university-level sports performances.
- It is given to a university for top performance in inter-university tournaments over the period of the last one year.
Selection Process
- The Selection Committee headed by a former Judge of the Supreme Court considers nominations received each year for National Sports Awards.
- Other members include members from eminent sportspersons and persons having experience in sports journalism and sports administrator etc.
- This year, applications were invited only online for the first time, and sportspersons/coaches/entities were permitted to self-apply through a dedicated portal.
- The Selection Committee headed by Justice A. M. Khanwilkar, Retd. Judge, Supreme Court of India.
Pic Courtesy: Hindustan Times
Content Source: Hindustan Times