Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award 2023 Winners List

Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award 2023 Winners List

Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award is given for the spectacular and most outstanding performance in the field of sports by a sportsperson over a period of the previous four years.

In this article we are giving you information about Dhyan Chand Award Winners.( Updated 2023 ) It was earlier called Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award. It was renamed after Major Dhyan Chand, soon after men’s hockey team won bronze medal in the Tokyo Olympics 2021 and women’s team finished fourth.

Major Dhyan Chand

Dhyan Chand Award Winners

1 The Khel Ratna Award is officially known as the Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award from 6th august 2021. The timing of the announcement to rename the award comes when men’s hockey team won bronze medal at the Tokyo Olympics in 2020 and women’s team came fourth after giving some great performances. The men’s hockey team ended a 41-year wait for an Olympic medal by taking the third spot

2 This award is named after Major Dhyan Chand (1905–79), an Indian field hockey player, who is regarded as one of the greatest field hockey players of all time. Dhyan Chand, a three-time Olympic gold medalist, is considered the country’s greatest hockey player.

2 The Khel Ratna Award was earlier called Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award.

3 It is the highest sporting honour of India awarded annually by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports. The President of India gives the Khel Ratna Award.

4 It was instituted in the year 1991–1992 and the award was given for the excellent performance by a sportsperson in a year.

5 The ministry revised the criteria in February 2015 to consider the performance of a sportsman over a period of 4 years. National Sports Awards are presented each year on August 29 which is also the National Sports Day in India. This day marks the birthday of Major Dhyan Chand Singh who won gold medals in Olympics for India in the years 1928, 1932 and 1936

6 The award comprises of a medallion, a certificate and a cash prize of Rs 25 lakhs.

7 A 12-member committee evaluates the performances of sportsperson at international events like Olympics, Paralympics, Asian Games and Commonwealth Games. The Awards are always awarded in Rashtrapati Bhavan, New Delhi, India.

8 The first recipient of the award was Chess Grandmaster Vishwanath Anand in the year 1991-92. Only two sportspersons are nominated for each sport discipline.

9 Abhinav Bindra, Sport shooter, at the age of 18 became the youngest recipient of the award.

10 Pankaj Advani (Billiards and Snooker) is the only sportsperson who have won the award for 2 sports disciplines.

11 58 recipients from fifteen sports disciplines have so far received the award till 2022.

12 The 12 members include 4 Olympians, or recipients of the Khel Ratna Award, 3 sports journalists, 1 sportsperson or expert in sports, 1 sports administrator, director general of the SAI, and the joint secretary of the department. The committee has 12 members with a chairperson nominated by the ministry.

13 Only one Sportsperson is awarded in a year, but a few exceptions were made in (1993–1994, 2002, 2009, 2012, and 2016–2021) where multiple sportspersons were awarded in a year.

Khel Ratna Award 2023 Winners List

In 2023, the prestigious Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award was conferred upon two exceptional badminton players:

Chirag Shetty: As Rankireddy’s doubles partner, Shetty’s exceptional skills and on-court synergy have led the duo to numerous international victories, significantly contributing to India’s badminton accolades.

Satwiksairaj Rankireddy: Known for his agility and tactical prowess, Rankireddy has been instrumental in elevating India’s status in international badminton doubles events.

Takeaway

The Khel Ratna award is given every year and it recognizes the outstanding talent, contribution and dedication of a sportsperson. The award is inspirational for youths who have talent and want to contribute in the sports area and make our nation proud.